Hartford, Conn. – The Trinity College women's basketball team won its second straight home game on Tuesday evening, topping visiting Mitchell, 67-45, in non-conference action on Stan Ogrodnik Court inside Oosting Gymnasium. With the win, the Bantams bounce back from a defeat last time out to improve to 4-6 on the year, while the Mariners suffered their fourth straight loss to fall to 1-8.
Junior forward Mackenzie Griffin (Stamford, Conn.) continued her dominant play for Trinity, registering a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Thrust into a starting role, senior guard Bianca Brenz (Lawrence, Mass.) scored 13 points to go along with a game-high four steals. Sophomore guard Kaitlin Lewis (Demarest, N.J.) provided a spark off the bench for the Bantams, scoring 10 points and pulling down five boards. After missing the early part of the season, junior guard Alexa Menard (Wallingford, Conn.) is getting back into the swing of things, netting six points and a dishing out a game-high six assists.
A pair of players led the way offensively for Mitchell as junior swing player Diamond Thomas and junior forward Amanda Garcia each poured in 10 points apiece. Garcia was a force in the post, grabbing a game-best 11 boards. Other contributors for the Mariners were sophomore Jessica Shepherd who added nine points and senior forward Dazjavia Williams netted seven points to go along with nine rebounds.
The Mariners got off to a hot start, jumping out to an early 14-5 lead following a layup from Thomas five minutes into play. The Bantams responded with a 19-2 run capped by a trey from Lewis to grab a 24-16 lead with seven minutes remaining in the opening half. Throughout the remainder of the first half, the Bantams defense clamped down and the offense knocked down shot after shot to build a 10-point lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, the hosts pulled away stretching their lead to as many as 25 points.
The Bantams held a 40-37 advantage on the glass and did a good job distributing the ball with 20 assists on 27 field goals. Trinity forced 20 turnovers and their bench outscored the Mariners, 22-5.
Trinity returns to action this weekend, Jan. 9-10, with a home weekend of action versus New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foes Williams and Hamilton. Mitchell will next take to the court on Saturday as they host league rival Southern Vermont.