JOHNSON, Vt. - University of Maine-Farmington women's basketball edged out Johnson State College Friday night in a tough 78-66 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) loss at home. The Badgers start their spring semester schedule with a 2-8 overall record, 0-4 in the NAC. UMaine-Farmington rose to 2-8 overall and 2-3 in the NAC.
Four of Johnson's players tallied double-figures including sophomore high scorer Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt. / Burlington) who notched 21 points for the Badgers. Sophomore forward Ashley Jones (Jeffersonville, Vt., Lamoille) tallied two assists, 15 points and eight rebounds for the hosts. Lazrin Schenck (Shelburne, Vt. / Champlain Valley Union) came off the bench and contributed 13 points and one assist. Freshman guard Mary Richardson (Vernon, Vt. / Brattleboro) boosted the Badger's with 12 points and 6 assists.
Although Farmington only placed two players in double figures, their offence proved to be too much for Johnson. Senior Kenni Norton (Strong, Maine / Mt. Abram) led the Beavers with 27 points and four assists. Freshman Meghan Smith (Boothbay, Maine/Boothbay Region) scored 12 points for the visiting team.
Johnson commanded an early 20-14 lead with 10:43 to go in the half following a 3-pointer by Robertson. Farmington would battle back and take a lead they would not relinquish following a pair of Ayla Allen (Rumford, Maine / Mountain Valley) free-throws with under a minute to go in the first half as the Beavers took a 30-26 lead in the halftime.
Farmington would connect on six 3-point field goals in the first five minutes of the second half, four by Norton as the visitors sprinted to a 49-31 advantage. UMF would grow the lead to as much as 22, but a Johnson run in the middle of the half shrunk the lead to 12 with 7:16 left to play following a bucket by Schenck.
The Badgers fought to the end cutting the lead to single digits with less than minute to go, but were not able to close the gap.
Johnson now moves onto Saturday's 1:00pm NAC game against Thomas College. UMaine-Farmington faces off against Lyndon State on Saturday at 1:00pm in Lyndon Center for another NAC match.