Sunday, November 25, 2012 (Norton, Massachusetts) - The Mount Ida College women's basketball team dropped their second loss in the early stages of the 2012/2013 season against hosting non-league foe Wheaton College Sunday afternoon in North, Massachusetts falling 82-37.
The Mustangs fall to an overall record of 1-2 and have yet to compete in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest.
The vistiors were led by sophomore guard Allison O'Connor (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) scored 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting (1-for-3 from beyond the arc), two rebounds, one assist and one steal. Classmate Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) collected a double-double with ten points (5-of-12) and ten rebounds (two offensive), one block and one steal.
Wheaton senior guard Hallie Vitagliano (Newton, Mass./Newton North) poured in a game-high 11 points on a perfect night from the field (5-for-5) including one three-pointer. Vitagliano also added three rebounds (two offensive) and one assist. Freshman forward Jorden Mitchell (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) matched Vitagliano for the game-high in points with a 5-for-12 showing from the field, four defensive rebounds and one block.
Sophomore guard Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) chipped in with nine points making three 3-pointers, all in the first half. Pierce also contributed four rebounds (one offensive) and three assists. Freshman Kiley Shoemaker (Fayeteville, N.Y./Fayeteville-Manlius) posted eight points, four caroms, one assist and one block.
The Lyons generated 14 turnovers in the first half compiling a 21-2 margin in points off of turnovers. Wheaton used a variety of press defenses after the first few possessions sparking a 27-8 run over a span of 11 minutes and 23 seconds to begin the contest which allowed the Lyons to never trail in the game. The hosts outscored Mount Ida, 22-2, in the paint and posted a 26-10 differential on the boards (11-2 offensive) in the opening half.
Overall, Wheaton out-rebounded the Mustangs, 48-24, and won the turnover margin, 27-18. The Lyons had 16 steals on the night with sophomore forward Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah/Skyline) leading the way with a game-high four swipes. Freshman forward Emily Romans (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) and junior guard Melissa McLaughlin (Spindale, N.C./R-S Central) aided the defense with three apiece. Wheaton outscored Mount Ida, 53-6, in bench points.
Mount Ida visits Daniel Webster College in non-conference action on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Some Content Courtesy of Wheaton College Sports Information