Johnson State Narrowly Overcomes Bay Path 43-39

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-For the second straight day, senior starting forward Jessica Hunt (Madison, Conn.) led all scorers with 19 points. Despite the valiant efforts on behalf of the Wildcats, the Badgers of Johnson State overtook Bay Path 43-39 in the final minute of play at the Alumni Healthful Living Center on WNEC's campus.

The Badger's starting freshman point guard Jen Fortman (Middlesex, Vt.) hit a key trey at a minute left to take the lead back from the Wildcats 40-39. The Wildcats were unable to utilize their final seconds of play and continued to send Fortman to the charity stripe. Fortman led Johnson State with 12 points and four boards.

Hunt also grabbed the game high in rebounds with 17, while chipping in one assist, four blocks and three steals for Bay Path.  She went .875 (7-for-8) from the free-throw line.

Johnson State managed to clear the bench spreading the scoring out amongst six other players.  Senior starting forward Abby Stuart (Deering, N.H.) chipped in nine points, five rebounds and three assists.  Fellow junior starting forward Christine Tatro (Eden, Vt.) pulled down double figures in boards with 10 rebounds, while adding four points.

Coming off the bench, freshmen Lyndsey Sheeran (Essex, Vt.) and Catlyn Hughes (Canterbury, Conn.) combined for 11 points.

Defensively, senior starting center Kathleen Rodrigue (W. Stewartstown, N.H.) had a stellar performance under the glass notching 11 rebounds for the Wildcats. Rodrigue had four points, two blocks and one steal.

Bay Path's starting senior forward Ashley Cimmino (Westfield, Mass.) had nine points, five rebounds, one block and one steal as the only member of both teams to play all 40 minutes.

Despite the tough loss, Bay Path out-rebounded Johnson State by almost double 60 to 35 for the game. Bay Path made 16 second chance buckets to Johnson State's four, while the Badgers took advantage of their speed connecting with four fast break lay-ups.

Johnson State is now 2-3 overall, while Bay Path falls to 3-5 on the season. Bay Path will host Green Mountain State on Wednesday, December 9 at 8:00 p.m. at HCC.