Western New England College cruises past Bay Path in first round Golden Bears Hoop Classic contest

Golden Bears Hoop Classic

Western New England College 78, Bay Path 30
Box Score

Trinity 57, Norwich 33
Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior guard Kailah Al-Darraji (Dover, NH) scored 23 points as the Western New England College women’s basketball team rolled to a 78-30 victory over Bay Path in an opening round game of the inaugural Golden Bears Hoop Classic Saturday (Nov. 21).

WNEC will meet Trinity (a 57-33 winner over Norwich) at 2:00 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 22) in the championship game. Norwich meets Bay Path in the third-place game at noon.

Al-Darraji, who scored 18 of the Golden Bears’ first 32 points, connected on 9-of-12 shots from the field and made 5-of-7 three-pointers.

Junior forward Kelly McCormick (Manchester, CT) added 12 points and six rebounds while freshman guard Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, CT) also netted 12 points coming off the bench.

Freshman guard Emily Savino (Ellington, CT) contributed eight points with six assists.

Western New England College led 48-12 at halftime in picking up its first win of the season in two outings. The Golden Bears finished shooting 61.4% (35-of-57) from the field.

Senior forward Jessica Hunt (Madison, CT) led the Wildcats with 16 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Senior guard Ashley Cimmino (Westfield, MA) chipped-in with 10 points.

Bay Path is now 1-2.

Trinity 57, Norwich 33 – The Bantams opened their season in impressive fashion as sophomore guard Michelle Royals (Torrington, CT) scored 17 points while senior guard Tess Donie (Worcester, MA) netted 10 coming off the bench.

Trinity led 29-16 at the break before the Cadets scored the first four points of the second half to get within nine. The Bantams tallied nine unanswered points for a 38-20 advantage and were never threatened the rest of the way.

Senior guard Ally Daniels (Concord, NH) led Norwich (1-1) with nine points, three steals, and a pair of blocks. 

Sophomore forward Tara Stevenson (Watertown, CT) contributed eight points in a reserve role. Senior forward Jess Jaggars (Vergennes, VT) pulled down a game high 10 rebounds.

Trinity also received nice efforts from junior guard Kristen Fahey (Cumberland, RI) who netted eight points, and junior center Molly McGlynn (Sleepy Hollow, NY) who grabbed eight rebounds.

The Bantams received 20 points from its bench players.