JOHNSON, Vt. – First-year guard Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) scorched the nets for a career-high 33 points including the game-winning running bank shot with :02.7 left remaining in the game to push Johnson State College to a 63-62 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball victory on Tuesday night at Carter Gym. JSC is now 3-9, 1-5 NAC while the Eagles sit at 2-8, 0-5 NAC.
Robertson was the lone Badger in double-figures though sophomore forward Janessa Swainbank (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) grabbed 11 rebounds, all defensive, while senior guard Andrea Deuell (Milton, Vt./Milton) and freshman center Madeline Pritchard (North Clarendon, Vt./Mill River) each scored eight points.
Green Mountain was paced by senior forward Millicent Hopper (Gouverneur, N.Y./Gouverneur) who scored 21 points, hauled down a game-high 19 rebounds, and handed out five assists. Chanleigh Casey (Hartford, N.Y./Hartford) netted 20 points and added seven boards and Jacque Caster (Seneca Falls, N.Y./Mynderse Academy) chipped in with 11 points.
Despite being outrebounded 44-28, the Badgers were able to earn the win behind an active defensive effort that forced 19 GMC turnovers and a 7-17 3-point shooting led by Robertson's 6-10 night from behind the arc.
The Badgers took a 30-24 lead into halftime keyed by Robertson's 10 points and freshman center KC Cousineau (Bristol, Vt./Mount Abraham) who scored seven of her nine points on the night in the first stanza.
GMC would claw back and take their first lead of the second half when at 14:05 remaining on a Hopper free throw making the score 40-39. The teams would tie the score four times over 12 minutes and JSC would finally regain the lead at 60-58 with 2:06 left to play behind a Robertson jumper.
After each team would sink a single free throw the Eagles would see Caster drill a huge 3-pointer from the top of the key with :06 left on the clock giving GMC the lead again at 62-61 and setting the stage for Robertson's heroics.
After a timeout by Johnson Head Coach Greg Eckman, Robertson would receive the inbounds pass with a head of steam, drive the right side hard between a pair of Eagle defenders, and back home a running 10 footer. The Eagles would get off a 60 foot heave but it would fall short as the buzzer sounded giving the JSC the big NAC win.
Johnson will remain at home for the next three games including Friday night when the host Maine Maritime Academy at 7:30 pm. Green Mountain moves on to play at Colby-Sawyer College on Thursday at 7:30 pm.