Mariners Sink Wildcats in NECC Women’s Hoops Action
HOLYOKE, Mass.-The Wildcats of Bay Path College fell 72-37 to the Mariners of Mitchell College in New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball action tonight. Wildcats' junior forward Jessica Hunt (Madison, Conn.), NECC Player of the Week, led all players with 21 points shooting 62% (8-of-13) from the field. Hunt also added seven boards, two blocks and three steals.
The Mariners' sophomore guard Brittany Smyth (Winsted, Conn.) topped her team with 16 points, nailing two of her four shots from behind the arc. Smyth shot 58% (7-of-12) from the field while pitching in two steals, one block and one assist. Three other Mariners put up double figures for the conference outing. Sophomore Guard Alix O'Neil (New London, Conn.) added 13 points, six rebounds, six steals, three assists and one block.
Teammates' junior guard Jen Iglesias (Waterbury, Conn.) and freshman guard Bianca Young (Bridgeport, Conn.) combined for 20 each contributing ten points.
Mitchell took full advantage early on of Bay Path's poor ball handling converting 34 of their points off of Wildcat turnovers. Bay Path succumbed to 34 turnovers on the evening to Mitchell's minimal 14 turnovers. Mitchell notched 18 steals to Bay Path's three for the game.
Under the boards, Bay Path stayed close pulling down 28 rebounds, out hustling Mitchell on the defensive glass with 23 rebounds to their 20 defensive rebounds.
Bay Path's sophomore guard Kat Begin (Weare, N.H.) finished with eight points while fellow guard senior Sarah Wright (Canterbury, N.H.) added six points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Mitchell is now 5-7 on the season and leading the NECC at 4-0, while Bay Path falls to 3-11 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday, January 24 travelling to Bennington, Vt. Facing Southern Vermont in round two of NECC play. The Mariners host Wheelock on Saturday in New London, Conn. Both conference games will tip-off at 1:00 p.m.
