New London, CT- The Women's Basketball had come into Monday night's game on a two-game losing streak having lost a pair to the #8 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers over the weekend. The team was looking to snap the skid, traveling to Mitchell College Mariners who were 0-1 coming into tonight's action. The Falcons came up short though, and fell to the home team 63-58 in the Yarnall Athletic Center.
After the Falcons got on the board first with a Jenny-Lynn Eggers (Sonoma, CA) lay-up, the Mariners took control of the contest, outscoring the Falcons in the first three quarters. With Mitchell owning a 36-28 lead at the half, each team struggled in the third quarter, shooting a combined 18% from the floor (4-22).The Falcons would claw their way back in though, cutting the deficit to single digits with 2:53 remaining in the contest on a three from Vivian Lara (Norwalk, CA). Lara got her team back to within three at 61-58 on back-to-back shots, including another three, with 21 seconds left on the clock. The Falcons were forced to foul and Mariners Inanna Rice made one of two free throws to put her team up for good as the Mariners held on for the 63-58 win.
Foul trouble played a role in the contest as the Falcons were charged with 32 fouls, giving the Mariners 44 shots at the charity stripe.
Lara led all scorers on the night, earning her second double-double of the season, notching 18 points and 10 boards. Eggers also finished in double figures, collecting 13 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. Lauren Allen (Long Beach, CA) had a balanced night at the point, tallying eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Amina Wiley paved the way for the Mariners with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with four steals and a block. Kelsey Hernandez also scored in double figures with 12 points for the home team.
The Falcons will have a day of rest and then return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Regis College for a 6pm start.