JOHNSON, Vt. – Thomas College ran out to a 30-19 halftime lead and was able to hold off host Johnson State on Friday night for a big 63-57 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) win to firm control of the eighth and final league playoff bid as the teams look to the final week of the regular season.  Thomas improves to 4-17 overall, 4-11 NAC while Johnson slides to 4-17, 2-12 NAC.

Johnson was led by first-year guard Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) who scored a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals.  Senior guard Andrea Deuell (Milton, Vt./Milton) supplied 16 points while freshman forwards KC Cousineau (Bristol, Vt./Mount Abraham) (pictured) and Kirsten Rand (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) each hauled down 11 rebounds.

Thomas' Karin Bird (Lee, Maine/Lee Academy), the nation's leading scorer in NCAA Division III, scored 21 points, grabbed eight boards, and collected three steals while Lindsay Fry (Nantucket, Mass./Nantucket) adding 13 points in reserve roll.  Jasmine Bishop (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Terrier defense held JSC to a 19% first half shooting effort to key the halftime lead with Fry scoring eight of her 13 over the first 20 minutes.  Thomas was able to make good on the poor Badger shooting by earning a 33-25 rebounding advantage in the first half.

Thomas would grow their lead to as much as 15 in the second half before Johnson put together a run to cut lead to eight at 58-50 with 3:08 left to play but Thomas would hold them off for the win.

Johnson will now host the University of Maine-Farmington on Saturday at 1:00 pm on Senior Day.  The Badgers will honor their loan senior Andrea Deuell prior to the game.  Thomas heads east to face Lyndon State College on Saturday also at 1:00 pm.