MOUNT IDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

First Round – 2017 Mustang Classic

Friday, November 17, 2017

Athletic Center, Newton, Mass.

GAME #1 FINAL:          DEAN 75, WENTWORTH 66

GAME #2 FINAL:          MOUNT IDA 69, WHEELOCK 58

NEWTON, Mass. --  Senior Patricia Liotta (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) scored 19 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead three players in double figures as Mount Ida posted a 69-58 non-league college women's basketball victory over Wheelock in first round play of the 2017 Mustang Classic Friday evening at the Athletic Center.  In the other opening round tilt, senior Morgan Turner (Winter Park, Fla.) notched a double-double effort of 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead Dean to a 75-66 triumph over Wentworth.

The host Mustangs (2-0) overcame an early seven-point first quarter deficit by ending the frame on a 10-2 run to grab a one point edge (15-14), and Mount Ida extended that margin to five (35-30) at the break before Liotta sparked an 11-2 run in the opening 8:24 after intermission that increased the advantage to 11 points (46-35).  The visiting Wildcats (0-1) crept back to within seven (52-45) on a jumper by freshman Alivia Damper (Reston, Va.) with 7:48 remaining in the contest, as the host regained their double-digit lead on a lay-in by senior Imani Bumpus (Dedham, Mass.) just over 90 seconds later en route to their triumph.

Liotta converted nine of 10 free throw attempts and canned a pair of three-pointers as part of her scoring output for the Mustangs, who received 17 points and four rebounds from Bumpus to go with 11 points and six boards from fellow senior Jaime Moscato (Taunton, Mass.).  Senior Breanna Muir (Wareham, Mass.) and sophomore Valerie Martin (Derry, N.H.) combined for 13 points for the winners, who shot 38 percent from the field overall and held a 22-10 scoring advantage at the charity stripe for the evening.  Mount Ida also held a 49-46 rebounding edge for the contest, including 31-19 on the defensive side.

Senior Katie Walsh (East Islip, N.Y.) registered a double-double effort of 21 points and 11 rebounds in the season-opening setback for Wheelock, which received 11 points and six boards from Damper along with nine points from junior Holly O'Sullivan (Falmouth, Mass.).  Senior Gaby Haywood (Longmeadow, Mass.) and junior Sarah Tobin (Salisbury, Mass.) combined for 12 points and 12 caroms for the Wildcats, who shot 29 percent from the field despite holding an 18-10 advantage in points in the paint and scoring 22 points off of 25 Mount Ida turnovers.

In the opener, Dean (1-1) used a 17-6 run over the final 4:32 of the opening half to stretch a two-point lead into a 13-advantage (39-26) at the break, and the Bulldogs increased that margin to 22 points (52-30) on a three-pointer by junior Jamaya Cleveland (Greensboro, Ga.) with 5:03 to play in the third quarter.  Wentworth (0-2) crept back to within eight (67-59) with 2:48 to play in the contest on a three-pointer by freshman Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.), but a combined six points from Turner and Cleveland down the stretch sealed Dean's triumph.

Turner shot 14-24 from the field and grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the win for the Bulldogs, who received a double-double performance of 14 points and 12 rebounds from sophomore Shannon Rosensteel (Sunrise, Fla.) along with 13 points from freshman Shania Springer (Bayshore, N.Y.).  Cleveland finished with eight points and six boards for Dean, which shot 44 percent from the field overall and held a 45-40 advantage on the glass for the evening. 

Freshman Erin Morton (Norway, Maine) led four players in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds in the setback for the Leopards, who received 11 points from senior Courtney McCormick along with 10 points and six boards from Mini.  Senior Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) was also in double figures with 10 points and four caroms for Wentworth, which shot 39 percent from the floor but committed 23 turnovers that led to 28 Bulldog points.

Mount Ida squares off with Dean in second round action of the 2017 Mustang Classic on Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Center beginning at 3:00 p.m., while Wentworth and Wheelock meet in the other second round match-up Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.