SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Jan. 18, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College basketball team suffered a 66-57 setback to Springfield College this evening at Blake Arena despite 16 points from junior guard Angelica Pascual. After closing the gap to 44-43 midway through the second half, the Lyons surrendered eight straight points and never recovered. They have now reached the midpoint of their 18-game NEWMAC schedule.

Pascual was joined in double digits by senior guard Christine Chancy and first year forward Amber Legare. Chancy finished with 14 points, while Legare chipped in with 11 points and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double.

The Lyons also received solid production from forwards Tricia Chase and Allison Slysz, who netted seven points apiece. As a team, they converted 43.8% (21-48) of their shots from the field and 83.3% (10-12) of their free throws. Pascual and Chancy drained two three-pointers apiece. Meanwhile, junior guard Jasmine Brown dished out six assists.

Senior forward Kelly Slattery set the tone for Springfield's balanced attack with 19 points and eight boards. She was aided up front by sophomore Tamara Tribble, who came off the bench to pour in a career-best 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the floor. The forward completed her outstanding night with a perfect 4-of-4 effort from the charity stripe. Ten of her points came after the intermission.

The Pride knocked down 44.3% (27-61) of their attempts from the floor and 87.5% (7-8) of their free throws. They finished with a 33-30 edge on the glass. Guards Kelly Murphy and Colleen Dignum added 12 points apiece.

Springfield (10-6, 6-3 NEWMAC) took control of the contest with eight straight points in the early stages of the first half. The final six came from Tribble, who put the Pride in front 17-10 with her third consecutive layup at the 11:26 mark.

Junior guard Meghan Biondolillo nailed a trey to give the hosts a 31-23 edge with 1:06 remaining in the opening frame, but Mount Holyoke answered with a three-pointer by Slysz and a free throw by Chancy to slice the deficit to 31-27 at the break.

Springfield scored the first two baskets of the second half to regain momentum and led 44-36 after a pair of free throws by Dignum at the 13:46 mark.

Refusing to go away, Mount Holyoke clawed its way back into the game with seven unanswered points over the next two minutes. Pascual got the rally started with a layup before Chancy netted a three-pointer. Pascual then cut the lead to 44-43 with another layup at the 11:26 mark.

From there, it was all Springfield. The Pride responded with eight straight points to put things out of reach. They led by as many as nine points on six occasions down the stretch.

Mount Holyoke (3-12, 1-8 NEWMAC) will resume its NEWMAC slate at home versus Wellesley College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.