The first nine minutes of the game saw three ties and four lead changes, hinting at the thriller the match would evolve into. After breaking a 13-13 tie with 11:18 to go in the half, MHC engineered a 15-5 run, giving the Lyons a 10-point margin with 5:14 remaining in the first stanza. WC chipped away to narrow its deficit to just four on a pair of free throws by senior Kim McCormack (Milton, Mass.) in the finals seconds of the first frame.
Wheaton kept-up the pressure in the beginning of the second frame, coming within a single point in just three minutes. The teams traded baskets until Wheaton’s Samara Audet ’07 (Derry, N.H.) drained a three-pointer to knot the game at 45 apiece at the 11:47 mark. Wheaton gained its first lead of the second stanza with 7:43 remaining off made-jumper and ensuing free throw from McCormack. The contest would see two more ties over the next four minutes before Wheaton College finally pulled away for good. MHC was unable to regain control, despite having opportunities at the foul line in the final 25 seconds of the game.
With her 19 points, Astuccio registered six rebounds, three steals, and two assists for Mount Holyoke. Junior Marissa Barone (Ludlow, Mass.) chipped in 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds. First year Michelle Kowalski (Springfield, Mass.) provided a spark off the bench, totaling eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks. As the team, MHC hit 40.7% of its field goal attempts and forced 18 WC turnovers.
Sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, N.H.) led all WC scorers with 17 points. McCormack topped the team in rebounding with eight defensive caroms, while chipping in 10 points and three assists. Jenny Champney (Bedford, Mass.) and Jennie Pleat (Nashua, N.H.) added 12 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, Wheaton shot 47.3% from the floor and knocked down 5-of-11 attempts from behind the arc.
Mount Holyoke travels to Northampton on Wednesday, January 17th, to face archrival Smith College at 7 p.m. Wheaton College will host MIT in NEWMAC action on the same night.