Saturday, January 26, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Senior forward Leslie Campbell (Quincy, MA/Quincy) has powered the Mount Ida College women's basketball team offensively the past two contests adding a game-high 16 points sinking 8-11 free throws in a 70-52 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss to visiting Johnson & Wales University Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. Although the Mustangs held a one point (30-29) advantage at the midway point, the Wildcats took over the second half on both sides of the court scoring 44 points holding the hosts to 22 closing out the league win.
Mount Ida drops their seventh consecutive conference loss falling to an overall record of 6-13 still searching for their first GNAC win. The visitors improve to 7-11 for the year, 3-3 in league action.
Along with a solid performance from Campbell, Mount Ida saw 15 points and eight rebounds on 7-18 shooting by senior guard and Captain Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley). Sophomore forward/center Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, MA/Brockton) continues her strong play around the basket adding 14 points going 6-11 from the floor adding eight boards. The Mustangs struggled shooting the ball, especially in the second half (33%), going 34 percent from the floor for the contest also coughing up 23 turnovers.
Johnson & Wales dominated the second half shooting 54 percent from inside the three point line and 66 percent from beyond the arc. 11 of the 13 players to see action for the visitors score at least one bucket led by senior guard Marina Millian (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) tallying 12 points and five caroms on 6-11 shooting. Senior guard/forward Ayla Walter (Mt. Pleasant, SC/Bishop England) recorded 11 points and nine boards narrowly missing a possible double-double. Sophomore guard Valerie Arce (Providence, RI/Hope) notched 10 points on 5-9 shooting respectively.
The opening eight minutes of the first stanza was very tight with no more than a couple of baskets separating the action. The visitors found a little breathing room with a five point margin ahead 15-10 capped on a successful jumper by sophomore forward/center Samantha Hendrick (Castleton-On-Hudson, NY/Maple Hill).
Mount Ida retook their fifth advantage of the game with 3:55 to go before the break following a three point play the hard way by Campbell up 26-25.
The teams would exchange the lead a couple of times before half with the Mustangs ultimately holding a slight one point lead (30-29).
After trading baskets for the first couple minutes Mount Ida went ice cold shooting while the visitors built a commanding 18 point advantage through the next 10 minutes (7:12) of action. JWU eventually finalized a 19-0 run taking a 52-34 lead after a good free throw attempt from Wildcat sophomore guard Kaitlin Kenney (Bradford, CT/Bradford).
Johnson & Wales widened their margin to a game-high 20 points with 2:15 remaining in the contest up 67-47 capped on an Arce lay-in. It was all but in the books at that point, with the Mustangs surrendering a 70-52 conference loss.
Both teams will play in non-league match-up next with Mount Ida hosting UMASS-Dartmouth this coming Tuesday with game time slated for 6:00 p.m. The visitors will travel to Pine Manor College Wednesday evening with tip-off coming at 7:00 p.m.