HOLYOKE, MA - The Medgar Evers College women's basketball team opened their 2019-20 season with a game against Bay Path University in Holyoke, MA, on Saturday, November 9.
The Cougars won by a final score of 54-47. This was the Cougars' first win in the season opener since defeating Pratt to open the 2013-14 season, and the first season-opening win vs. an NCAA team since at least the 2009-10 season.
In the first quarter, Medgar struggled, hitting just two of 11 field goal attempts as they trailed 13-4 after the first quarter. Soon into the second quarter, the Cougars again found themselves trailing by 14, their largest deficit of the game.
Medgar went on a 9-0 run, including two
Samsara Paul field goals, to make the score 22-17, and at halftime, the Cougars were well within striking distance trailing by just seven.
Paul made a field goal immediately in the second half and
Destiny Simmons quickly followed with one of her own. Brathwaite hit a three-pointer with 2:40 left in the third to finally tie the contest, before consecutive layups by Paul and Simmons put Medgar up four.
With the game tied heading into the fourth quarter, the Cougars stepped up, allowing just seven Wildcat points in the quarter as Medgar scored 14. Brathwaite hit her third three of the game, a dagger with just 49 seconds left, to put the Cougars up 53-45.
"I'm really proud of the way we battled back from a rough first quarter," said Head Coach Ben Newberg. "It took a total team effort to come back and get the win."
Brathwaite led all scorers with 22 points and added seven rebounds and two assists, while Simmons totaled nine points, eight assists, six rebounds, and six steals. Paul finished with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
The Cougars return to action on Sunday, November 17, for the team's home opener at 2 pm at the Cougars Cave vs. Wentworth Institute of Technology.
