Posted: Jan 19, 2016
New England College senior forward Tiffany Davis finished with a game-high 15 points and 12 rebounds lifting the Pilgrims past the visiting Johnson State College Badgers 73-57 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball action Tuesday night. With the win the Pilgrims improve to 9-6 overall and 3-5 in NAC play. The loss drops the Badgers to 6-10 on the season and 3-6 in the NAC.
PILGRIM LEADERS
In addition to Davis, the Pilgrims were led by LaQuil McKnight who finished with 13 points, including 10 in the second half, and seven rebounds. NEC's Marjani Lillard chipped in 12 points and dished out a game-high six assists, while Tanner Favreau finished with nine points for the Pilgrims.
BADGER LEADERS
Johnson was led by Amanda Bednarick who finished with a team-high 15 points, shooting 5-for-8 from beyond three-point range. Ashley Goddard chipped in 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Nicole Menard was the only other Badger in double-figures finishing with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams would battle closely through the opening quarter as Johnson would hit the final two buckets of the opening quarter giving them the 12-8 lead after one. The two teams would switch leads seven times throughout the second quarter as the Pilgrims would come through in the paint scoring 14 of their 20 second quarter points from the paint and take the 28-27 lead into halftime.
The Pilgrims would pull away in the second half of play behind a 10 points second half performance by LaQuil McKnight. NEC improved their shooing in the second half shooting nearly 50% from the field and 81% from the foul line. The Pilgrims held the slight 42-40 advantage in rebounding.
WHAT'S NEXT
New England College will be on the road this weekend as they travel to take on conference opponent UMaine-Farmington on Friday, Jan. 22 and battle Thomas College on Saturday, Jan. 23. Johnson will hit the court again on Saturday, Jan. 23 when they travel to battle in-state opponent Lyndon State College.