Springfield, Mass. – November 20, 2013 – Despite 16 points and 10 boards from Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, Conn.), the Springfield College women’s basketball team dropped a 57-36 decision to Wheaton College in its New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener in Blake Arena on Wednesday night.

The Pride drops its second-straight game to fall to 1-2, 0-1 in league play, while the Lyons stay perfect on the year, improving to 3-0, 1-0.

The Pride didn’t do itself any favors as it committed 32 turnovers, including 23 in the opening 20 minutes of play. Melissa Canty (Albany, N.Y.) provided a nice spark off the bench, producing five points and five caroms.

For Wheaton, three players scored in double figures, with Kiley Shoemaker (Fayetteville, N.Y.) leading the way with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting to go along with eight boards and five blocks. Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah) added 16 points, six steals, and five boards, and Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H.) racked up 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well, with Springfield going 13-for-50 (26%) and the Lyons connecting on just 21-of-72 (29.2%), including just 4-for-29 from beyond the arc.

After a Riley Fake (Brockport, N.Y.) foul-line jumper at the 17:53 mark gave the hosts an early 4-2 advantage, the Pride went cold from the field as the Lyons poured on a 19-0 run over the next 10:11 to surge ahead with a 21-4 lead.

A free throw from Tamara Tribble (White Plains, N.Y.) broke the Pride’s 11-plus minute scoreless draught. Springfield would get within 15 on a Bickelhaupt free throw with 5:52 on the clock, only to have the visitors take a 20-point lead following a Sarah Fitzgerald (Bath, Maine) trifecta.

Springfield drew within 17 in the second half on an inside Bickelhaupt bucket with 7:52 remaining in regulation. However, Wheaton would not be denied and led by as many as 23 in the second half en route to the 21-point victory.

The Pride will travel to play MIT on Saturday in another league game with begins at 2:00 pm.