Wellesley Basketball Routs Mount Holyoke To Earn First NEWMAC Win, 66-28

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Junior guard Caitlin Aguirre (El Paso, Texas) finished with a game-high 17 points and six steals to lead Wellesley College basketball to a 66-28 victory over Mount Holyoke College in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Howard Gym.

The Blue move to 4-2 overall and even their NEWMAC record to 1-1. The Lyons are now 0-8 overall and 0-2 in the NEWMAC. 

Aguirre added three rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes of action for Wellesley. Sophomore Alyssa Cho (Hillsborough, Calif.) posted 10 points and pulled down five rebounds, while junior Emily Kopp (King Ferry, N.Y.) chipped in with four rebounds, two steals and a game-high six assists. First year Daisy Ella Johnson (Westport, Mass.) matched Kopp with seven points and added two assists and four steals. 

First year Annika Brooks (Portland, Maine) finished with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to lead Mount Holyoke. Sophomore guard Raquel Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I.) added eight points and four rebounds, while first year Mikayla McEwen (South Hadley, Mass.) had two steals and two blocks. 

Wellesley opened the game with a 17-2 first quarter advantage and never trailed on the afternoon en route to the 66-28 victory. Aguirre scored eight points in the first half, including six in the opening quarter, as the Blue jumped to a 30-10 lead at the break. Wellesley limited the hosts to just three field goals in the opening half in taking the 20-point lead at the break.  

Wellesley started the third on a 9-0 run, capped by a jumper from Cho at 7:25, to take a 39-10 lead. The Blue went on to drop in 24 points in the third quarter to stretch their advantage to 54-22 at the start of the fourth. The visitors would eventually lead by as many as 38 points when a Valentina Morakis (Long Island, N.Y.) layup made the score 62-24 with 4:16 left in regulation.

The Blue finished 28-for-66 from the floor (42.4%) while limiting the Lyons to 34.5% (10-of-29) shooting. Wellesley forced 40 Mount Holyoke turnovers and committed just 12, scoring 41 of their 66 points off turnovers. Mount Holyoke had a 33-31 lead on the glass. 

Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. Wellesley will host Emerson and Mount Holyoke will travel to Springfield. The Blue dropped a 73-56 decision to Emerson in their NEWMAC opener last Wednesday in Boston.