WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS SECOND GNAC LOSS TO JOHNSON & WALES, 67-56

The Mount Ida College Women’s Basketball team hosted Johnson and Wales University this Monday night losing their second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match-up in a physical battle on both sides of the ball, 67-56. The Mustangs drop their record to 5-11 overall and 2-2 in the conference while the Wildcats improve to 6-9, 4-1 in the GNAC.

MIC pulled out to a 9-7 advantage in the opening with 14:05 showing on the clock in the first half. J & W would take over for the next eight minutes leading by as many as seven, but the Mustangs would power up and get aggressive regaining the momentum on a three point bucket by Senior guard Crystal Burgess (Lowell, MA/Lowell Regional Tech.) up 22-20. Mount Ida would maintain the advantage until halftime up 27-25 shooting 40 percent in the first stanza.

The hosts would continue to lead throughout the beginning of the second half up 36-33 with 14:15 remaining. The Wildcats tied it at 36-36 on a shot from downtown by junior guard Johanna Santosuosso (Salem, NH/Salem) locking it up. Eventually, the teams would exchange baskets for the next four minutes until J & W took the game over. With 7:58 showing, the Wildcats took back the advantage on another triple by Santosuosso jumping out to a seven point lead. The Mustangs fought hard, cutting it to five with 4:41 on the clock, but J & W would pull ahead up 63-54 with 1:23 to go in regulation handing MIC their second GNAC loss of the season.

Burgess and Sophomore forward Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) would both record double-double’s netting 19 a piece with a combined 23 rebounds leading the Mustangs offensive attack. Junior guard Elise McLear (Swansea, MA/Case) would chip in eight points and six assists.

The Wildcats were led by three players in double figures including Santosuosso would dropped in a team high 14 points and eight dishes. Sophomore forward Alexia Ramirez (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) and junior forward Maria Valletta (Greenville, RI/Ponaganset) would add 11 a piece with a combined 16 boards.

The Mustangs go on the road traveling to Norwich University this Wednesday, January 23, for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.