BROOKLINE, Mass. – Senior guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) earned her first double-double of the season in an unconventional way. Leading the Newbury College women's basketball team to the 56-48 win over Bay Path University, she tied her career single-game high with 10 assists while netting 14 points.
The Nighthawks set the tone early, shooting an astounding 52.9% in the first half. Reigning New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) and NEWBA Rookie of the Week Savannah Olsen (Battle Creek, Mich.) dominated the paint knocking down 10 of her first half 18 points to put the Nighthawks up 19-11 after the first quarter.
After dishing out four assists in the first quarter, Roeser continued to pile up the assists adding another five – the majority of the time to Olsen, who netted eight points for a half-high 18 points. With momentum firmly on their side, the Nighthawks shot 64.7% from the floor, missing just six field goals, the Nighthawks outscored the Wildcats, 25-9 to take a commanding 44-20 lead into halftime.
When the teams emerged from the locker rooms at the start of the second half, the Wildcats came out with the goal to swing the game back over to their bench. Senior Elizabeth Haylette(Terryville, Conn.) led the Wildcat offense netting seven points as they clawed their way back into the game. In a 16-point third quarter, Bay Path pulled to with 10 points of the lead, trailing 46-36, heading into the final quarter.
Despite outscoring the Nighthawks, 12-10 in the fourth quarter, the Nighthawks' first half offensive explosion was too much for the Wildcats to handle. Junior Brenna Roy (Stafford Springs, Conn.) drained six points in the period but Newbury sophomore forward Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) sealed the game with four points en route to her 11th double-double on the season.
With the more conventional double-double, Spears was one of three Nighthawks to reach double figures tallying 12 points and 11 rebounds. Olsen came up one rebound shy of her seventh double-double, recording a game-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds.
Roy led the Wildcats with a team-high 18 points while Haylette followed up with 10 in addition to pulling down 10 rebounds.
Newbury climbs to 6-9 in the conference and 7-15 overall while Bay Path drops to 4-18 and 1-14 in NECC action. The Nighthawks return to the hard-court this weekend Saturday February 13thwhen they travel to Nashua, N.H. to tip-off against Daniel Webster College, looking to split the season series with Eagles. Tip-off's at 1:00 p.m. The Wildcats will also be in action Saturday afternoon when they host Becker College at 1:00 p.m.
Game Notes:
Senior guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) came two assists shy of breaking the program's career single-game record in assists set by Shanisha Mitchell, who dished out 11 against St. Joseph's (CT) on 1/31/04…Roeser is currently one assist shy of tying the program's all-time single-season record in assists with 113 on the season…The Nighthawks dominated the paint outscoring the Wildcats, 34-12…The Nighthawks also took advantage of second chance opportunities outscoring the Wildcats, 16-2…