CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University freshman Dakota Jones (Torrance, Calif.) tied the program single-game record with 20 rebounds and turned in her ninth double-double of the season with ten points to lead the Lynx to a 60-52 comeback victory over Bay Path University this evening at the Nicholas Athletics Center.
Jones pulled down 12 of her rebounds in the third and fourth quarter to help lead the Lynx on a second half run that saw them shoot 44% and outscore the Wildcats 41-30.
The victory is the second consecutive win for the Lynx as they improve to 5-9 overall and an even 4-4 in the New England Collegiate Conference. Lesley's five wins is the most in a single season since the 2010-11 campaign.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 1-12 on the season and 0-8 in conference matchups.
Jones' effort was aided by senior Emily Meade (Londonderry, N.H.) who posted her first career double-double with career-high of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) posted a team-high 17 points to go with four rebounds, five assists, and six steals while freshman Linda Wallentine (Monroe Township, N.J.) added nine points, four boards, and four dimes. Sophomore Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) finished with seven points and five rebounds.
Bay Path senior Dallas Jackson (Springfield, Mass.) registered a double-double of her own with 19 points, 16 rebounds while adding six steals and four assists in a full 40 minutes of action. Classmate Brenna Roy (Stafford Springs, Conn.) added 12 points while sophomore Haleigh Bassett (Millers Falls, Mass.) poured in eight to go with ten caroms.
After taking a 22-19 lead into halftime, the Wildcats started the third quarter on a 10-4 run to stake a 32-23 lead with 5:51 left on the clock. Lesley would respond by scoring 11 unanswered points over the next 3:14 to jump back ahead 34-32. The two sides would exchange buckets before Wallentine knocked down a pair of free throws to cap the quarter with the hosts holding a 39-36 lead.
The Lynx would continue their momentum by scoring the first six points of the fourth to push their lead nine. The Wildcats would claw back to single digits with a brief 5-0 spurt capped by a Roy triple.
Roy would later sink two free throws to cut the deficit to four, 49-45, with just over four minutes to play, but Lesley would respond with a 9-2 run ignited by a pair of Meade layups on their way to their second straight win.
The Lynx shot 35% (24-of-69) on the evening and held the Wildcats to just 26% (20-of-76) shooting while the hosts also kept a 32-24 edge in points in the paint.
Lesley will return to action on the road on Wednesday when they travel to Regis College for a conference tilt with the Pride at 6:00p. Bay Path will next play at home on Saturday and host Elms College at 5:00p.