BY ANNA BALLOU '20
Mount Holyoke College Basketball saw New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference action this past Saturday, facing Massachusetts rival Wheaton College in front of an energetic crowd at Mount Holyoke's home gymnasium. After numerous lead changes, Wheaton edged out MHC and the game concluded with a final score of 70-34.
The game was fast-paced and competitive from the start, with guard Kathryn Violette '20 converting on a layup only 4 seconds after tip-off. Wheaton quickly countered to take the lead 3-2. Immediately following, Violette scored again on a jump shot conversion to put MHC back in the lead. The teams battled throughout the first quarter, exchanging leads multiple times.
In the second quarter, Wheaton saw a series of successful offensive plays and finished out the first half with a 46-20 advantage. Late in the third quarter, the Lyons were able to hold Wheaton scoreless for close to 4 consecutive minutes. This was inspired by efforts from Violette and Leah Hodges '19.
Violette led the team with a game-high 17 points. Xajaah Williams-Flores '17 also saw a game high with 13 rebounds, five of which were offensive. The Lyons also saw a stellar performance from guard Katlyn Grover '20 who scored 8 points, including two key three pointers.
Basketball returned to action on Wednesday, shouldering a loss to WPI, and continues their season on Saturday, Feb. 4, when they will face Emerson College. As this coming Saturday's contest is both a home and conference match, the team hopes to draw a large fan base to help them secure a win.