NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's basketball team returned home for the first time in five games Saturday afternoon and collected a 64-49 victory over Wellesley College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action in Emerson Gymnasium. The Lyons raised their season record to 10-7 and league mark to 4-1, while Wellesley fell to 7-6 and 2-4.

A back-and-forth opening half resulted in four ties and three lead swings nearly 14 minutes into action. Trailing 8-6 at the 10:37 mark, Wheaton went on a 12-2 run over 5:21 for an 18-10 advantage. Seniors Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH/Nashua South) and Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) chipped in with five points each during the run. In the final 2:17 of the frame, the hosts knocked down four of their last five shots for a 26-16 halftime lead. Pleat finished the half with nine points, while Wellesley freshman Elisha Orama (Miramar, FL/American Heritage School) had eight.

Wellesley trimmed its deficit to nine points thanks to a free throw 14 seconds into the second half before the Lyons scored seven straight points, including six by senior Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School), to secure a 33-17 advantage at 16:42. The visitors made it a 12-point game at 46-34 with 6:02 to go, but Wheaton put things out of reach by rattling off eight straight points in just 30 seconds. Smith scored the final six points in the run.

Smith ended with a game-best 18 points to go along with four assists and four steals. Pleat scored a career-high 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and snagged a career-high-tying seven boards. Hickey added 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, junior Ida Kruse (Vershire, VT/Rivendell Academy) notched 10 points and five boards, while classmate Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) matched a career best of six blocks to go with seven rebounds and three steals.

Orama led Wellesley with 16 points and hit 4-of-5 from behind the three-point stripe, while senior Jessica Duff (Abingdon, UK/Saline) turned in a double-double performance with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Julia Thomas (Concord, CA/Northgate) posted 11 points and nine boards. The Blue went just 3-of-14 from the free throw line.

Wheaton remains at home on Wednesday for a conference contest against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 7:00 p.m.