JOHNSON, Vt.- The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball program returned home on Saturday to host Norwich University for an in-state matchup which resulted in a 72-48 loss for the Badgers.
The women's basketball program celebrated their five seniors prior to the start of action on Saturday. Ellery Kiefer, Jocelyn Pellerin, Aysha Hodgdon, Devin Libby and early graduate Melissaann Clark all earned the start for the Badgers in one of their final home games of their career in Carter Gymnasium.
Kiefer led the way for the Badgers scoring 15 points, grabbing eight rebounds and earning five assists. Pellerin and Clark added eight points apiece and Gabriella Wardell added six points and eight rebounds.
Both teams were back and forth in the first quarter until a Norwich run gave them the edge by a score of 19-12. Riley Bennet led the Norwich offense off a game high 26 points, while Caileigh Travers added 13 points and 10 rebounds to earn her first double-double of the season and Julia Vigorito chipped in 11 points for the Cadets. The Cadets continued to control the pace in the second quarter but couldn't capitalize offensively, while the Badgers fought from behind as Pellerin made two big shots and a basket from Libby closed the gap to tie the knot at twenty- one a piece. The Cadets gained composure after back to back stops and regained the lead headed into the half leading 33-25.
In the third the Cadets ramped up their defensive intensity that resulted in a 26-1 run to take the lead headed into the final stint of action by a score of 59-26. The Badgers battled to create runs for themselves late in the third and in the fourth and final quarter when they outscored the Cadets 22-13, but it wasn't enough as the Badgers dropped the home contest falling to 0-4 on the season.
Women's basketball will look for revenge this upcoming Wednesday as they travel to face the Cadets at 5:30pm.
