CHICOPEE, Mass. – A huge first half led the Southern Vermont College women's basketball team to a 61-31 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) victory over Bay Path University Sunday afternoon at Elms College's Picknelly Arena.

The Mountaineers conceded just two points in the first quarter and five more in the second to head into the locker room on top 32-7. SVC then outscored the Wildcats by five in the second half to sweep the season series with BPU.

Southern Vermont (5-14, 3-9 NECC) is next in action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. home game against Newbury College—that day also serving as SVC's Senior Day.

Mountaineer junior Di Smith (Troy, N.Y.) registered her first double-double of the year with season-highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Ahmyria Simmons (Silver Spring, Md.) followed with 11 points, four boards, four assists and three steals while classmate Brittany Fulton (Bridgeport, Conn.) chipped in with eight points for SVC.

Southern Vermont went 25-62 (40.3 percent) from the floor while holding Bay Path to a 27.8 percent (10-36) clip on field goal attempts. The Mountaineers snagged a 36-25 advantage in rebounds while outscoring BPU 31-8 in points off turnovers.

SVC held the Wildcats scoreless through the final 7:20 of the first quarter while seven Mountaineers registered baskets in the frame for a 19-2 upper hand. Southern Vermont then ended the second frame on an 11-2 run for a comfortable lead at the break.

Bay Path trimmed the deficit down to 18 in the third quarter, but Fulton answered with her second triple of the day to push the difference back over 20. Smith had eight of her points in the final 10 minutes as SVC topped the Wildcats 19-11 in the fourth quarter to close out its fourth-straight win and the Mountaineers' 10th in their last 11 matchups with BPU.

– #LetsGoSVC –