FARMINGTON, Maine — The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team traveled to Farmington, Maine to compete in the quarterfinals of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament on Saturday afternoon. The 6th-seeded Badgers battled with the #3 UMaine-Farmington Beavers to and 85-54 defeat at Dearborn Gymnasium. 

Ellery Kiefer led the Badgers with 20 points on 8-13 shooting. Kiefer added seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Kiana Johnson notched 11 points and pulled down four rebounds. Alexandra Barry tallied 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals for the Badgers. 

The Badgers faced an early 9-2 deficit in the first quarter before Kiefer sparked the offense, tallying eight points in the first ten minutes of action. Fresh legs and fast substitutions by the Beavers set the pace as they ran out to a 17-12 lead at the end of the first. The Badgers offense stagnated in the second quarter and the Beavers extended their lead to 39-24 entering halftime.

After early baskets by the Beavers, Kiefer powered in back-to-back fields goals and Johnson hit a shot from behind the arc to close the gap to 17 points. Following two made free throws by Farmington's McKenna Brodeur, the Badgers answered with a three pointer from Amorette Rodriguez and a layup by Johnson to bring the Badgers within 14 halfway through the third stanza. 

Up by a score of 67-47 entering the third quarter, the Beavers continued their offensive barrage as Brodeur scored eight of her game-high 23 points. The Beavers outscored the Badgers 46-30 in the second half to take the quarterfinal win by a score of 85-54.

With the loss the Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team concludes the season with a record of 4-21, while the Beavers improve to 13-13 overall and advance to the NAC Semifinal on Friday night.