Women’s Basketball Powers Past Mitchell, 84-63

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team collected its first conference win of the season Wednesday evening, defeating Mitchell 84-63 at the Lahue Athletic Center.

The Lions improve to 9-8 on the year and 1-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the victory. The Mariners sink to 7-11 overall and 0-2 in league action with the setback.

Sydni Oviatt (Fruit City, Utah) poured in a game-high 28 points while adding seven boards. Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) finished with 16 points and nine assists. Michala O'Donoghue (San Bruno, Calif.) chipped in with eight points while Janelle Jiron (Granada Hills, Calif.) recorded eight rebounds and six points.

The guests grabbed a five-point lead with 3:23 remaining in the first period on a pair of free throws by Amina Wiley, 11-6.

Mitchell clung to a 15-11 edge through 10 minutes of play.

The home side strung together a 9-0 run to seize a 22-19 advantage with 4:44 left in the second frame.

Eastern Nazarene sported a 29-25 halftime lead and posted a field-goal percentage of 31.4% in the first half while connecting on 3-of-11 from three-point territory. Mitchell shot 32% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc in the opening two quarters.

The Lions utilized a 15-0 run to widen the margin to 46-27 midway through the third period.

The hosts outscored the Mariners 27-16 in the third to hold a 56-41 advantage heading to the final frame.

Eastern Nazarene snagged its largest lead of the game with 3:01 left to play in regulation, 82-59, as Oviatt splashed her second-consecutive trey.

The Lions poured in 28 fourth-quarter points and limited Mitchell to 22 en route to locking up their first conference win of the year.

Eastern Nazarene concluded the contest with a field-goal percentage of 44.9% with a 12-for-29 showing from three-point range. Mitchell shot 45.3% from the floor and 30.8% from downtown on the evening.

Wiley led the Mariners with a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Dede Stevenson registered 13 points while Yasmine Santos added 11 points.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene continues conference play February 5 on the road at Lesley.