HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Lesley University women's basketball team closed out the regular season with a 69-55 to Bay Path University, in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action, Thursday evening. First year guard Linda Wallentine (Monroe Township, N.J.) led three in double figures for the Lynx netting 20 points.
Senior center Emily Meade (Derry, N.H.) followed up with 12 points, while junior forward Courtney Coggin (Cheshire, Conn.) added 10 points. Freshman forward Dakota Johnson (Torrance, Calif.) topped the Lynx with 14 rebounds.
Lesley jumped ahead early in the game leading the first quarter 17 -12. Senior Aliyah Gordon (Springfield, Mass.) added the much needed spark in the second quarter chipping away the lead nailing three consecutive lay-ups. Meade tried to hold the lead drawing a foul to land the three point conversion. But a combination of Brenna Roy (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and Jackson working the arc tied the score 31-31. Roy nailed back to back treys with Jackson knotting it up heading into the half scoring the final three-pointer.
The Wildcats came out of the half-time break after being honored for their college careers with fire in their eyes. They managed to shut down the Lynx scoring 16 points to seven for the third quarter.
Bay Path really jumped ahead successfully using a full court press managing to dishevel the Lynx. Senior Krystal Fredette (Orange, Mass.) and Jackson scored back to back lay-ups. Fredette pulled in a much needed offensive board to start the fourth quarter. Roy finally hit her stride from downtown adding two more treys and Jackson concluded the scoring for the game hitting her final two from the charity stripe.
Bay Path's defense and execution of the press was the key finishing with 13 steals to two for the contest scoring 21 points off of the Lynx turnovers.
Bay Path also honored one final senior Shannon O'Neil (Ludlow, Mass.) who graduated early in December for her commitment to the team. After tonight's game, Gordon is now 6th all-time in scoring for Bay Path with 1,027 points, while Roy is now 8th in scoring and Gordon is 10th in the record books. Roy leads all-time in 3-points made with 186 made.
Bay Path is now 3-19 overall and 2-15 in NECC play, Lesley drops to 7-18 on the season and 5-18 in conference play. The Wildcats will travel to Elms for their final regular season game on Saturday, February 18th for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off, while Lesley concluded their regular season and will wait to hear their standings in the 2017 NECC Women's Basketball Championships.
- Game recap courtesy of Bay Path Athletic Communications