CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – A career-and-game-high 28 points for Southern Vermont College freshman captain Amber Flagg (Windsor, Conn.) was not enough as hosting Wheelock College held off the Mountaineers 58-54 Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's basketball action at Brunelli Court.
Wheelock senior captain Keneisha Milton (Boston, Mass.) led her team with 17 points while two teammates reached double-digits off the bench in the Wildcats' first win of the season.
A slow start for both teams saw the Mountaineers take a 7-6 lead almost halfway through the opening period after a Flagg layup. Wheelock came right back with a layup by freshman forward Kelsey Becker (Hanover, Mass.), but Flagg responded with a 3-pointer as the teams continued to go back-and-forth.
Wheelock was able to make its way to the free throw line late in the half and converted the attempts in conjunction with baskets by junior captain Randi Davis (Wilmington, Mass.) to grab an eight-point advantage at the break.
A Flagg 3-pointer sparked a 9-2 SVC run during which she hit four-of-four free throws while freshman Sarah McDonald (Cohoes, N.Y.) made a layup in the midst to make it a 34-33 contest. Four-straight points by Milton extended the Wheelock lead back to five. After scores by each team, Southern Vermont freshman guard Mariah Anthony (Northfield, Mass.) hit back-to-back shots to trim the lead back to one with the score standing at 42-41.
The Wildcats continued to try and pull away, but the Mountaineers were up to the task and kept the game within their grasp. Flagg tied the game at 52-52 with a shot from behind the arc with just over a minute to go. Wheelock freshman Kate Drummey (Harvard, Mass.) hit a jumper to take a momentary lead as Mountaineer freshman Kala MacKenzie (Fair Haven, Vt.) hit a layup to once again tie it up shortly after.
Next trip down, Drummey grabbed her own rebound and put it back for the eventual game-winning basket. The Mountaineers were unable to get a shot off as both teams committed turnovers in the final minute. SVC would be forced to foul and send Milton to the line, a trip in which she hit both free throws for the four-point victory.
Anthony finished the night with 12 points and six rebounds while MacKenzie recorded a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with three steals and two blocks.
Milton led all players with 16 rebounds, 10 coming on the offensive boards. Becker grabbed 12 rebounds in addition to her eight points, and Drummey scored 10 in the win. Senior captain Sarah McCaffrey (East Taunton, Mass.) had 11 points and a pair of steals off the bench.
The Mountaineers (3-11 overall, 3-4 NECC) look to bounce back Saturday at 12 p.m. when they visit Newbury College while Wheelock (1-12 overall, 1-6 NECC) next plays at 1 p.m. Saturday when it travels to Becker College.