Women's Hoops Wins Third Straight, 81-57 Over Bay Path

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Niah Pantry poured in a career-high 27 points and added 17 rebounds as the Elms College women's basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with an 81-57 victory over Bay Path in New England Collegiate Conference action on Tuesday night.

Pantry hit 12-of-25 shots and collected nine of her 17 boards on the offensive end. She also added two assists, a block and a steal in the win. Samantha Lynes scored 16 points off the bench for the Blazers, who have won three straight NECC games to get to 3-3 in league play and 4-8 overall.

Molly Moulton rounded out the Blazer double-figure scorers, finishing with an efficient 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

Elms held a modest 23-16 lead mid-way through the second quarter before using a 10-3 run to take a double-digit lead. The Blazers led by double-figures the rest of the way, building the lead to as many as 24 points, 70-46, mid-way through the fourth quarter.

The Blazers held a 56-46 rebounding advantage over the Wildcats (0-13, 0-7 NECC) and held Bay Path to 35 percent (20-of-57) from the field. Elms, meanwhile, hit 39 percent (33-of-84) from the field and 7-of-16 3-pointers.

Sharmeria Armstead scored a team-high 15 points for Bay Path, hitting 3-of-6 from 3-point range while adding five boards and three assists. Joanne Nazario hit 5-of-7 from the field to score 12 points, and added six boards for the Wildcats, and Emmeline Bronson added 11 points for Bay Path. Paige Marshall had a team-high 14 rebounds for the visitors.

After finishing with just nine turnovers – the teams lowest total since 2015 – in a win at Lesley on Jan. 13, the Blazers committed just 10 on Tuesday night. Elms forced Bay Path into 25 turnovers, and converted those into 22 points.

The Blazers visit Southern Vermont on Thursday and Becker on Jan. 20 as NECC play rolls on. Bay Path hosts Newbury on Jan. 18.