NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team cruised to a 79-56 victory over Bay Path University on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Five Mariners scored in double figures as Jessica Shepherd, Savannah Boyle and Samantha Ryan each netted 13 points. Diamond Thomas and Dazjavia Williams added 10 points apiece while the former also handed out a career-high eight assists. 

Dallas Jackson paced Bay Path with a game- and season-high 22 points and added six rebounds and two steals. Frankie Wauneka also finished in double figures with 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Aaliyah Gordon chipped in with six points and 10 boards.

Both teams got off to a slow start, though the Mariners kicked into gear behind an 8-0 run to build a 21-10 lead with 6:55 to play in the opening half. The margin then ballooned to as many as 19 points in the final three minutes of the stanza as Mitchell went on a 13-1 run that featured five points from Boyle and four from Thomas.

Leading 38-21 at the break, the Mariners expanded the margin to as many as 28 in the second half and never let the Wildcats back in the game. Mitchell held a 36-14 edge in points in the paint and outscored Bay Path 11-2 in transition.

Amanda Garcia grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to fuel Mitchell's 60-41 advantage on the glass. Ryan also corralled 11 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season.

Mitchell (6-11 overall, 6-5 NECC) will next host Daniel Webster College on Thursday, February 5 at 5:30 p.m. Bay Path (2-12 overall, 2-8 NECC) returns to action at home against Regis College on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.