JOHNSON, Vt.- The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team hosted in state rival Norwich University on Sunday afternoon in Carter Gymnasium. The Cadets edged the Badgers in the final minute of regulation and closed the afternoon with a 52-51 win.

The Badgers were led by Lindsey LaPerle who scored a team high 10 points off the bench. Klaire Ware and Amorette Rodriquez added nine points each for the Badgers and Kiana Johnson and Halie Tillotson rounded out the team's top performers with seven points apiece. 

The Badgers shot 33.3% from the floor and 30.0% from behind the arc while holding the Cadets to just 27.8% shooting on the floor and 16.7% from deep. It was the battle on the backboards and turnovers that gave Norwich the advantage. The Badgers were out rebounded 39-32 and gave the ball away 17 times.

NVU-Johnson opened the game up on a 10-2 run but the Cadets managed to get the deficit with three. With the slight 12-9 advantage back to back baskets from Ware allowed the Badgers to remain leading after the first period 16-13. In the second stint of action both teams traded baskets, but the Badgers held the lead after being outscored 11-10 to take a 26-24 lead headed into the break.

The Cadets came out of the break strong scoring going on a 9-2 run that was fueled by Riley Bennett who had a game high 17 points and Julia Vigorito who scored 10 point. The Cadets defensive effort was enough to hold NVU-Johnson to just five points in the third period to take the 37-31 lead headed into the final period of play.

With the game neck and neck in the fourth and final period with just three minutes remaining in regulation the Badgers regained the lead off a jumper from LaPerle forcing the Cadet timeout. The Cadets capitalized out of the timeout as Caileigh Travers got to the rim to give Norwich the advantage. Rodriquez regained the lead the next possession down the floor draining a shot from behind the arc, but the Badgers were over the bonus and put the Cadets on the line where Bennett would eventually capitalize to give the Cadets the victory by a score of 52-51.

With the loss women's basketball falls to 0-17 on the season and will host SUNY Canton on Friday, January 31 in a North Atlantic Conference showdown.