Wildcats Tame Nighthawks 60-56 in NECC Hoops Action

HOLYOKE, Mass.-  Junior guard Dallas Jackson (Springfield, Mass.) propelled the Wildcats with a season high 29 points to secure a 60-56 victory over New England Collegiate Conference opponent Newbury College tonight in women's basketball action. Jackson topped all scorers including four treys, six assists, four steals and eight rebounds.

The Wildcats jumped ahead early controlling the lead and held it heading into the locker room with two made free throws by sophomore guard Aaliyah Gordon (Springfield, Mass.)  with a 28-21 half-time score. The Wildcats slowly continued their scoring slow and steady and held a 12 point lead at 14:57 in the second half after Jackson grabbed a defensive board and brought it down for a lay-up. Gordon finished with six points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Nighthawk's senior center Jamie Vankoeverden (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led her team with the lone double double of the game scoring 17 points and adding 14 rebounds. Freshman forward Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) wasn't far behind with 16 points, while junior guard Jovanna Sandifer (Boston, Mass.) chipped in 11 points. Rounding out the starting five,  sophomore forward Brittany Beals (Lawrence, Mass.) had eight points and pulled down 13 boards, seven of which were offensive.

Like Jackson, freshman starting point guard Kaylee Herring (Worcester, Mass.) was hot from downtown scoring 13 points, 12 of which were from behind the arc. She had two assists and five steals.

Head Coach Jill Shaw managed to allow her bench some significant playing time with freshman Prianka Naha (Bristol, Conn.) notching her career high nine rebounds providing a much needed spark defensively in the paint for Bay Path.

Sophomore forward Frankie Wauneka (Easthampton, Mass.) got into some foul trouble early but also pulled down nine rebounds for the Wildcats. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Jaclyn Lafleur (Gill, Mass.) also played bigger in the paint finishing with five rebounds.

Bay Path's sophomore guard Brenna Roy (Stafford Springs, Conn.) who also got into early foul trouble finished with eight points, three rebounds and two assists going 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.

Bay Path is now 4-13 overall and 4-9 in the NECC, while Newbury falls to 6-15 on the season and 5-9 in conference play. Both teams are looking to add in some snow make-ups this week. Bay Path will playing host the cross-town conference rivals the Elms Blazers on their own court tomorrow February 13^th at a 7:00 p.m. start, while Newbury hosts Daniel Webster in a Valentine's Day match-up at 2:00 p.m.