The Wildcats Take the Mountaineers 59-53 in NECC Action

HOLYOKE, Mass. --- Sophomore guard Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) topped the Wildcats with 15 points her second highest this season going a sizzling .636 from the field (7-for-11). Three other Cats managed to score in the double figures helping Bay Path to their tenth win of the season. Bay Path which is now .500 on the year at 10-10 defeated New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) foe Southern Vermont 59-53 tonight in NCAA DIII women's hoops action at the Bartley Center.

The Mountaineers freshman guard Amber Flagg (Windsor, Conn.) led all players with 18 points. Despite a good performance by Flagg, Southern Vermont only had one other go to player from freshman forward Sarah McDonald (Cohoes, N.Y.) who finished with ten points and 12 boards.

Bay Path managed to start each half with a bang with junior forward Kayla Skiffington (East Longmeadow, Mass.) causing an immediate Mountaineer turnover at the tip which led to the first trey shot by junior guard Justine Hook (Berwick, Penn.).  Junior guard Jessica Santiago (Chicopee. Mass.), who made her first starting nod tonight, cause the turnover in the start of the second half.

Hook, who was injured ten minutes into the second half, finished with ten points nailing three from downtown. Santiago tied with Flagg for five steals had six points. Skiffington led all players defensively tallying 13 rebounds while chipping in ten points notching another double double on the season.

Coming off the bench senior guard Brittney Alexander (Enfield, Conn.) provided some much needed spark for the Wildcats. Brittney Alexander had 12 points, while her sister starting sophomore point guard Toni Alexander (Enfield, Conn.) contributed six points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a career high four blocks.

Southern Vermont mad a well fought run to catch the Wildcats with three minutes left in the game freshman guard Javasha White (Schenectady, N.Y.) hit a lay-up. But the Bay Path Alexander sisters would combine for three points to put the score to 53-49 at 2:36 on the clock.  Both teams would waste the next minute with no scoring. Southern Vermont would call a time out to start the fouling at under a minute.

Brittney Alexander made two from the charity strip at 48 seconds left.  Flagg would then drive the basket and score for the Mountaineers.  Despite their efforts and some bad last minute fouls by Bay Path, Southern Vermont could not comeback with Skiffington making two more free throws and Santiago scoring the final point from the line with only six seconds remaining.

Bay Path is also .500 in conference play with the win 7-7. Southern Vermont falls to 3-18 overall and 3-11 in conference play. Both teams play NECC opponents on Thursday with Bay Path travelling cross town to play Elms at 7:00 p.m. while the Mountaineers host Becker for an 8:00 p.m. contest.