MOUNT IDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Bartley Center, Holyoke, Mass.
FINAL: MOUNT IDA 70, BAY PATH 44
HOLYOKE, Mass. -- Sophomore Valerie Martin (Derry, N.H.) notched a double-double effort of 18 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists as Mount Ida continued the best start in program history with a 70-44 non-league college women's basketball victory over Bay Path Tuesday afternoon at the Bartley Center.
The visiting Mustangs (4-0), who are already halfway to their entire win total of last season prior to Thanksgiving, scored 13 of the game's first 15 points in the opening 4:27 of play in building a 25-11 advantage after the first quarter, and after the host Wildcats (0-4) cut their deficit to nine with 2:53 remaining in the half, Martin and sophomore Alisa Benson (Middletown, R.I.) combined to score the final seven points before intermission to stake Mount Ida to a 38-22 lead at the break. The visitors increased their edge to as many as 18 points in the third stanza before outscoring Bay Path 19-8 in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin and claim their 19th victory in as many series meetings between the two schools dating back to 1999.
Senior Breanna Muir (Wareham, Mass.) joined Martin in double figures with 10 points and four assists in the triumph for the Mustangs, as 11 of 16 players in the contest scored at least two points on the day. Senior Jaime Moscato (Taunton, Mass.) chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals for Mount Ida, which received seven points each from sophomore Jessica Cyr (Ashford, Conn.) and freshman Caity Oliver (Oviedo, Fla.). Freshman Skyler LeClair (Hinsdale, N.H.) came off the bench to add five points for the visitors, who received four points, three caroms and a pair of assists from freshman Melody Millett (Naples, Maine). Benson and senior Patricia Liotta (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) added three points and three rebounds each for the Mustangs, who received four points from sophomore Emily Pentz (Washingtonville, N.Y.) along with a bucket and two boards from sophomore Alexa Galluci (North Stonington, Conn.). Mount Ida shot 42 percent (28-67) from the field for the day while recording 17 assists and 22 steals for the contest, as the Mustangs held a 38-14 advantage in points in the paint and scored 28 points off of 31 Bay Path turnovers.
Senior Bethany Rogers (Plymouth, Mass.) scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the setback for the Wildcats, who received 12 points, six boards, four steals and a pair of assists from junior Joanne Nazario (Springfield, Mass.). Freshman Alicia Jackson (Brenham, Tex.) chipped in with 12 points and four steals on the day for Bay Path, which received 10 caroms from junior Samantha Drapinski (Malden, Mass.). The hosts shot 31 percent (17-55) from the field overall and connected on just two of 13 attempts from behind the arc on the afternoon, as the Wildcats held a 45-36 advantage on the glass (17-13 on the offensive side).
Mount Ida will be idle until Thursday, November 30th when the Mustangs travel to Salem, Mass. to square off with Salem State in a non-league outing that tips-off at 7:00 p.m., while Bay Path hosts Dean in its New England Collegiate Conference opener on Wednesday, November 29th at the Bartley Center beginning at 8:00 p.m.