NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team fended off a comeback attempt in the second half and finished off a 67-56 victory over Newbury College on Thursday night at a packed Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell shot just 33 percent from the floor as a team but forced 27 turnovers to the tune of a 31-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Senior Alix O'Neil led all scorers with 23 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Mariners (11-6 overall, 8-2 NECC). Sophomore Kaylee Cerruto contributed 14 points and three assists.

Newbury (8-12 overall, 6-5 NECC) was led by Catherine O'Connell, who finished with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting and added a game-high 18 rebounds and three blocks. Jalisa Fields chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds while Shayla White also scored in double figures with 11.

Mitchell took its first lead of the game at 8-5 on a Cerruto three-pointer and never trailed again. The Mariners led by as many as 11 in the first half and took a 35-26 lead into the locker room at the break. Cerruto hit three treys in the stanza and led all scorers with 12 points at intermission.

The Nighthawks fell behind by 13 points early in the second half before making a push to get back into the game. Fields was the spark behind the comeback, scoring eight points during a 19-6 run that saw Newbury tie the game at 49-49 on a three-pointer by Kendra Bannister with 8:03 to go.

The Mariners answered right back on their next possession and regained the lead on a lay-up by senior Kailee Hyde, who finished with a season-high six points in 14 minutes off the bench. Mitchell then scored its next nine points from the free throw line, and a jumper by Hyde stretched the lead to 10 at 62-52 with 2:49 remaining. The Mariners outscored the Nighthawks by an 18-7 margin over the final eight minutes to seal the win.

Mitchell shot 13-for-15 from the charity stripe and committed only nine turnovers. Newbury shot 38 percent from the field and held a 51-40 edge on the glass.

Mitchell will next host Daniel Webster College on Saturday, February 5 at 1 p.m.