Worcester, Mass. – Senior sharpshooter Kate Karraker (Morgantown, W.Va.) connected on six three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points as visiting Mount Holyoke held off a furious Clark rally to take a 45-41 decision in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Wednesday evening.

The win for the Lyons snaps a three-game losing streak, upping their record to 5-11 overall and 2-5 in conference action. For the Cougars, meanwhile, they see their losing streak extended to nine straight as they dip to 3-13 overall.

Karraker started off hot, connecting on four first half three-pointers as the Lyons built an early 17-point lead following an Amber Legare (Chicopee, Mass.) inside hoop that made the score 23-6.

Clark tightened the gap before the half ended, going on an 11-2 run over the final six minutes to go into halftime down just 25-17 after Dominique St. Pierre (Portsmouth, N.H.) beat the buzzer with a putback as time expired.

Mount Holyoke wasted little time building their lead back up in the opening minutes of the second stanza as Karraker drilled another three-pointer and Legare converted a conventional three-point play that made the score 32-17 less than four minutes into the half.

The Lyons' lead was still at 13 at 37-24 five minutes later after Karraker got loose inside for an easy hoop. Clark made a push, trimming the lead down to six after a pair of Aretha Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) free throws and back-to-back baskets from Olivia Lyons (Belmont, Mass.) and Brooke Brennan (Weston, Mass.).

With under three minutes to go, the Scarlet and White got an excellent fast break finish from Sullivan and a steal and hoop from Sam O'Gara (Worcester, Mass.) to trim the deficit to three at 39-36 but Legare answered with a free throw line jumper on the ensuing possession.

On the next trip down the court, Sullivan's layup attempt was rebounded by Gwyneth Ivory (Ashland, Mass.) who found O'Gara open for the Cougars' lone triple of the night, making the score 41-39 with 1:05 left.

Mount Holyoke salted the game away, however, going four-for-six from the free throw line in the final 57 seconds, including two from Kelly Stewart (La Canada, Calif.), who shot 0-for-4 from the field but connected on the two most important free throws of the night.

The game overall proved to be pretty sloppy as the teams combined to commit 47 turnovers and shoot a collective 24 percent from the field (28-for-114).

In addition to Karraker's huge night – she added eight rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals while playing the entire 40 minutes, Legare posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards, while Green (ten) and Nicole DeMarchena (Miami, Fla.) (13) each added double figure rebound totals.

Clark was paced by O'Gara's 12 points, four rebounds and three steals and Sullivan's ten points, six rebounds and four steals. Lyons, meanwhile, chipped in with eight points and a team-best ten rebounds in just 20 minutes before fouling out.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday with Mount Holyoke hosting Wheaton and the Scarlet and White traveling to the Pioneer Valley to face Smith.