South Hadley, Mass. - November 26, 2019 - The Mount Holyoke College basketball team fell to Bay Path University, 47-45, in their final game prior to Thanksgiving Break on Tuesday evening in Howard Gymnasium.

Leading Mount Holyoke College was an impressive effort from junior forward Annika Brooks (Portland, Maine), who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while first-year guard Ellie Hayward (Westmoreland, N.H.) totaled 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sophomore forward Mikayla McEwen (South Hadley, Mass.) had four points and pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds in 40 minutes of play. 

Back-to-back baskets from Brooks and Hayward gave the Lyons a 6-2 advantage over the Wildcats at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter, before Mount Holyoke College took a 12-4 lead on a jumper from Olivia Aries (Brewster, N.Y.) with 33 seconds remaining in the frame. Bay Path would bury a three pointer as time expired to give the Lyons a 12-6 lead after 10 minutes of play.

The Wildcats knotted the game at 14 just 2:52 into the second quarter before a three-pointer from Emmeline Bronson (Shelton, Conn.) gave the visitors a three-point advantage. Bay Path would take a six-point lead before back-to-back baskets from Brooks and Hayward cut the Lyons' deficit to two points with 1:11 on the clock. Bronson would drill another three as time expired in the half, sending the Wildcats into the locker room with a 25-18 lead.

The Lyons cut their deficit to four with 6:06 to play in the third quarter on a jumper from Hayward, before a lay-up from Brooks at the 2:14 mark made it 35-32, Bay Path. From there, the Wildcats would regain a five-point margin before McEwen hit a lay-up in transition to make it 37-34, heading to the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Kelly Lynch (Quincy, Mass.) hit a baseline jumper with 7:20 on the clock to pull the Lyons to within one, still trailing 40-39, before Bronson made a lay-up, then followed up with a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 47-41 advantage. Despite two free throws from Hayward, the Lyons were unable to overcome the deficit, falling to Bay Path, 47-45.

With the loss, the Lyons are now 1-5 overall, while the Wildcats improve to 1-7 on the year. Mount Holyoke College shot 21-for-73 (28.8%) from the floor in the setback, while Bay Path was 19-for-70 (27.1%). The Lyons held a 58-50 advantage in rebounds over 40 minutes of play, and outscored the Wildcats in the paint, 24-22.  

Up next, Mount Holyoke College will travel to Johnson & Wales for a 7 p.m. contest on Tuesday, December 3.

For the latest updates on Mount Holyoke College Athletics, follow the Lyons on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.