Daniel Webster Holds off Bay Path 63-56
HOLYOKE, Mass.- In another New England Collegiate Conference match Daniel Webster was able to hold off a second half push by the host Bay Path Wildcats winning 63-56. Leading all players was sophomore Kayla Skiffington (East Longmeadow, Mass.) tallying 19 points and 14 rebounds. Bay Path had a strong second half showing outscoring the Eagles 27-22 bringing the game within seven for the final tally.
Also scoring 19 points today was Daniel Webster's senior guard Alycia Gervais (Windham, Conn.). Gervais was key down the stretch for the Eagles sinking 9-for-11 from the charity strip adding 13 boards and four steals.
Daniel Webster was able to gain a significant lead early in the first half putting the defensive pressure on Bay Path pressing them through most of the initial twenty minutes of play. Coming back from the locker room the Wildcats regrouped and were able to effectively break the press and score eight points on break away shots.
With three minutes remaining and the Wildcats chipping away at the score Skiffington nailed a jumper to bring the score with seven 56-48. Gervais was fouled and would go one-for -two from the line with freshman guard Toni Alexander (Enfield, Conn.) hitting a break-away jumper to get the score within six 56-50. Gervais would answer the call making two more free throws. Skiffington would respond with two from the line only to fall short of time.
Guard Sarah Paternostro (Glastonbury, Conn.) finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Defensively, senior forward Kirsten Murphy (Woodstock, Vt.) had 10 rebounds and eight points. Also scoring eight points for the Eagles was sophomore guard Jennifer Fredericks (Beacon Falls, Conn.).
Notching the other double double for the Wildcats was junior center Nicole Delano (Enfield, Conn.) with eleven points and eleven rebounds. Delano also had two blocks and two steals. Toni Alexander finished with nine points, six rebounds, seven assists, four steals and one block. Freshman guard Je'Quana Orr (East Hartford, Conn.) finished with eight points and seven rebounds including 2-for-3 from the arc.
Coming off the bench, sophomore forward Taylor Riley (Colchester, Vt.) added seven points.
Bay Path falls to 4-11 overall and 4-7 in the NECC, while Daniel Webster coasts to 11-6 and 7-3 in league play. Daniel Webster faces Southern Vermont on the Tuesday the31st, while Bay Path hosts Wheelock on Thursday, February 2nd for an 8:00 p.m. start.