HOLYOKE, Mass. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season on Thursday night by a 70-44 final against Bay Path University at Holyoke Community College.

Junior forward Amanda Garcia posted season highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds  to lead the Mariners (1-4 overall, 1-1 NECC). Sophomore Jessica Shepherd chipped in with 19 points, three assists and three blocks while junior Diamond Thomas added 13 points.

The win was also the 50th in the head coaching career of MaryLynn Skarzenski.

Kaylee Herring paced Bay Path (0-6 overall, 0-2 NECC) with 20 points and shot 5-for-9 from long range. Mitchell held the rest of the Wildcats to 24 points on 10-for-39 shooting and forced 25 turnovers.

Mitchell led 12-11 with 12:48 to play in the first half before using a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to seize control. The Mariners later closed out the stanza with 13 straight points—including eight from Garcia—to take a commanding 41-17 lead into the break. Garcia had 13 points at intermission while Thomas contributed 11.

The Mariners led by as many as 40 points in the second half and cruised to the finish. Shepherd netted 12 of her 19 points over the final 20 minutes and connected on four of her five three-pointers on the night.

Garcia was one of three Mariners to record double-digit rebounds in the contest. Senior Dazjavia Williams pulled down a game-high 13 caroms while sophomore Samantha Ryan grabbed a career-high 11. Mitchell finished with a 53-33 edge on the glass.

Mitchell will next host Elms College on Saturday, December 6 at 1 p.m.