NEWTON, Mass. – Katlyn Jesse (Marshfield, Mass.) scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half, and Mount Ida cut an 18-point deficit to as few as six points, but were unable to overcome Emerson College, who defeated the Mustangs 61-52 in a non-conference women's basketball game on Wednesday night at Mount Ida Athletic Center.
The Lions led 38-20 in the second half, but Mount Ida (3-12) kept the heat on, led by Jesse and freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.), who led all players with 17 rebounds to go with nine points, four assists, and a pair each of steals and blocks.
Emerson junior Kristin Brice (Indiana, Pa.) led all players with 18 points, helping the Lions to a 6-10 record and an end to their three-game losing streak. Brice was 6-for-11 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line, while also having three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Emerson hit six three-pointers, five of them in the first half, in which they doubled up the Mustangs, 30-15. Mount Ida struggled from the field early on, managing just 16.1% in the first 20 minutes, while in the second half they shot at a 36.6% clip.
Brice scored the opening bucket of the second half before a mini-Mustang run pulled the hosts back to within twelve. Another small spurt, capped by a three-point play by Martinez kept the deficit at a dozen and a three-pointer by Jesse made the game a 47-41 affair with 5:07 left to play.
Brice scored the next six points for the Lions and came up with a key steal and she and Kelsey Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.), who had seven points and ten rebounds, each knocked down shots from the field and the charity stripe to bring the Lions lead back to double-digits.
After taking just five attempts in the first half, the Lions went 16-22 (72.7%) from the free-throw line after the break, which helped stymie the Mustangs comeback until Mount Ida ran out of time.
Senior Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) added 12 points, two assists and two blocks for the Mustangs and freshman Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass.) had eight points and four rebounds. Jesse had nine boards and four assists to go with her strong offensive night, but the Mustangs were outrebounded 50-48.
Elizabeth Horan (Ashland, Mass.) had 14 points for Emerson, including 4-for-7 from downtown. Sienna O'Han (Red Hook, N.Y.) added 12 points, five assists and five rebounds, while freshman Olivia Still (Hebron, Conn.) had three steals.
The Mustangs return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome in Emmanuel College at 1:00 pm as part of a men's and women's doubleheader.
Emerson also turns their attention back to conference play on Saturday with a trip to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Wellesley.