Posted: Dec 06, 2013
Johnson State College persevered thrrough several University of Maine at Farmington come-back bids and escaped Dearborn Gym on Friday with a 62-56 North Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory.
Johnson State (2-4, 2-0 NAC) saw a 10-point first half lead evaporate, as UMaine-Farmington (2-4, 1-1 NAC) went on an 11-2 run to draw to within one of the Badgers, 31-30, with 3:07 left in the first half.
The one-possession margin held through the intermission and into the second half, with the Beavers briefly taking a 42-41 lead at the 16:06 mark on junior Lindsay Ranquist's jumper. Johnson State regained the lead a minute later, and again held a one-possession advantage over the next four minutes.
An 8-0 Johnson State run briefly widened the gap and Farmington got back to within three points, 59-56, with 2:52 on the clock thanks to a pair of converted foul shots by senior Hannah Roy.
UMaine-Farmington was unable to close out the rally, going 0-of-5 from the field and
0-of-2 at the free-throw line the rest of the way, while Johnson State went 3-of-4 at the line to defend its lead.
0-of-2 at the free-throw line the rest of the way, while Johnson State went 3-of-4 at the line to defend its lead.
The Beavers were held to just 4-of-32 shooting in the second half (.125), and finished the game with a .238 field goal percentage (15-of-63). Johnson State shot 31.3 percent (20-of-64) from the floor, including six 3-pointers.
Eliannie Sola led Johnson State with 16 points, and was one of four Badgers in double figures. Allyson Bruckner and Kasey DeGreenia each had 12 points, while Brittany Robertson had 13. DeGreenia paced Johnson on the boards with nine rebounds.
Sophomore Ayla Allen charted 15 points for the Beavers, while Ranquist and senior Holly Oliver finished with 12 and 10 points respectively. Sophomore Meghan Smith hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds, while Ranquist and freshman Bridget Humphrey each grabbed eight. The Beavers outrebounded the Badgers, 57-48, including a 22 to 15 advantage on the offensive glass, but each team charted 12 second-chance points.
UMaine-Farmington returns to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7, when it hosts Lyndon State at 3:00 p.m. in Dearborn Gym. Johnson State travels to Waterville, Maine, on Saturday to face Thomas College in a 3:00 p.m. tip-off.