JOHNSON, Vt. — The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team secured their first win of the 2019-2020 season on Friday night against SUNY Canton in a North Atlantic Conference matchup. 

Ellery Kiefer tallied a double-double and led the Badgers with 17 points on 5-10 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. Amorette Rodriguez finished with 12 points on 4-7 shooting for the Badgers while Halie Tillotson added eight points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists. 

The teams traded baskets early in the first quarter before a 14-2 run by the Kangaroos gave SUNY Canton an early eight point lead over the Badgers. A made layup by Kiana Johnson in the final minute of action cut the Kangaroos lead to 16-10 entering the second stanza. The Badgers came out hot in the second quarter, capitalizing on turnovers by the Kangaroos. A pair of baskets from behind the arc by Rodriguez and seven crucial points from Kiefer helped give the Badgers a 29-26 advantage at halftime.

The Badgers did not let up in the third quarter, marching out on a 10-0 run in a balanced attack to extend their lead to 13 points halfway through the third quarter. The Kangaroos battled back to bring the game within three points late in the quarter before a three-point play by Kiefer and a made free throw by Cheyann Tooman pushed the Badgers lead to 43-36 entering the final quarter of action.

Up by two points with less than five minutes to play, the Badgers remained composed and earned the win from the foul line outscoring the Kangaroos 10-2 in the final minutes of action to emerge with a 59-49 victory. 

The Badgers won the rebounding battle out-rebounding the Kangaroos 32-28. The Badgers capitalized on second chance opportunities earning 21 points on offensive rebounds. 

With the win, the Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team improves to 1-17 on the season and 1-7 in NAC play. The Badgers will look to earn their second win of the year versus SUNY Canton at 1:00pm on Saturday, February 1st at Carter Gymnasium.