HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's basketball team topped the Johnson State Badgers 86-54 in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) contest Thursday night.  The loss sees the Badgers dip to 3-14 on the season and 1-10 in NAC play, while the win for the Pilgrims improves their record to 13-4 overall and 8-2 in the NAC.

The Badgers' offense was led by freshman Mary Richardson (Vernon, Vt./Brattleboro) who finished with a team-high 17 points while Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) contributed 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.

For the Pilgrims, senior forward Kate Levy (Woods Hole, Mass.) finished with a game-high 23 points to go along with nine rebounds.  In addition to Levy NEC was led by Kayla Lawlor (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) who was the only other Pilgrim in double figures finishing with 12 points and Shauntaye Pumphret (Bristol, N.H.) who pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to go with her six points.  Senior guard Katarina Muska (Brimfield, Mass.) dished out an impressive eight assists to go along with eight rebounds and seven points for the Pilgrims.

NEC kicked off the half with an early seven point lead up 10-3 just five minutes in.  Johnson battled their way back cutting the lead to two before the Pilgrims would use a 9-1 run to go up 19-8 midway through the half.  The Pilgrims would grab their largest lead of the half up 13 with under a minute to play but the Badgers would score the final three points of the half to head into the locker room trailing 35-25.

NEC controlled much of the offense in the second half shooting 44% from the field, which included 24 points in the paint to close out the game 86-54.

Johnson will prepare for a home game this Saturday, Jan. 26 when they take on NAC foe Colby-Sawyer College. NEC will return to action Saturday, as well traveling to NAC conference opponent Lyndon State College.