Wildcats Take Lynx in Final Seconds of Pink Out Game

HOLYOKE, Mass. – In true Bay Path style, the Wildcats made a triumphant come back taking the Lesley Lynx in the final ten seconds of the game after a crucial offensive rebound by sophomore forward Kayla Skiffington (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and put back to take the first lead of the game and eventual game winning shot. After getting fouled on the final shot with four seconds remaining a time out was taken by Bay Path head coach Jill Shaw telling Skiffington to purposely miss the final free throw to keep the clock running.  Bay Path defeated Lesley 58-57 in another New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) game.  Tonight's pink out game proved pink to be a good luck charm with the host Wildcats who took the floor in their brand new pink uniforms bringing awareness to breast cancer.

Skiffington started the last ditch surge for the Wildcats hitting two lay-ups with three minutes remaining on the clock bringing the score to 53-51. Coming off the bench for the Lynx, senior guard Sherrey Smith (Belmont, N.H.) answered back with a made jumper at 1:55 left. Bay Path's junior guard Brittney Alexander (Enfield, Conn.)  would again bring them game within two points making her own jumper at 1:31 on the clock. Senior guard Emily Fleming (Medford, Mass.) would take the four point lead again for the Lynx.

The turn came at 49 seconds left when freshman guard Je'Quana Orr (East Hartford, Conn.) hit a key trey off a great inside pass by Brittney Alexander. With that made and the Wildcats down by one, Skiffington picked up the final bucket and helped win their sixth conference game and defeating Lesley twice this season for the first time in their history.

Fleming finished with a team high 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals.  Senior guard Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) had eleven points and six rebounds.  Three Lynx players finished with eight points including senior center Grace Amato (Sharon, Vt.), junior forward Chelsea Contre (Pomfret, Conn.) and freshman forward Carrie Fieger (Simsbury, Conn.).

Skiffington tallied the game high 23 points while pulling down 17 rebounds.  Brittney Alexander had the other double figure on the team with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Orr had seven points and five boards hitting two from down town. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) provided a much needed spark also nailing two three-pointers for the Wildcats. 

Freshman guard Toni Alexander (Enfield, Conn.) proved to be the only Wildcat effective at the charity strip tonight going 4-for-4 also notching her season high 13 rebounds while shelling out five assists. Rounding out the starting five was sophomore forward Taylor Riley (Colchester, Vt.) who had seven rebounds and five points.

Bay Path is now 6-14 overall and 6-10 in the NECC while Lesley remained winless with a 0-22 record and 0-16 in conference play.  Both teams came together prior to tonight's game to help support the pink out cause helping raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

The Wildcats will travel to Mitchell on Tuesday, February 14^th for a Valentine's Day match-up. Lesley hosts Wheelock on Wednesday, February 15^th finishing off the final week of league play.