JOHNSON, Vt.-The Northern Vermont University-Johnson women's basketball team hosted rival Northern Vermont University-Lyndon in a North Atlantic Conference & President's Cup Challenge contest in Carter Gymnasium on Tuesday evening. The Hornets prevailed by a score of 70-52, earning 0.5 points towards the Northern Vermont University Presidents Cup.
Ellery Kiefer led the Badgers with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals and an assist. Melissaann Clark sored 11 points off the bench, draining three shots from behind the arc.
It was a slow start for both teams as the first basket of the contest was scored with 6:58 remaining in the first period. It was the Hornets that went on the first run of the game taking the 12-6 advantage before closing the period by a score of 16-8.
The Hornets continued to control the pace in the second period starting with a 9-2 run ignited by Alisha Mitchell who finished the contest with 15 points on 7-12 shooting. Both teams traded baskets the remainder of the quarter and the Hornets took a 37-21 lead headed into the break.
The Badgers came out of the break and got contributions from Kiana Johnson who finished the game with seven points, four rebounds and two steals. Christle Page played significant minutes for the Badgers in the second half scoring nine points on 4-6 shooting, but NVU-Lyndon edged NVU-Johnson in the third period by a score of 16-10.
NVU-Johnson outscored the Hornets in the fourth and final period, but NVU-Lyndon closed the game by a score of 70-52. The Hornets shot 45.9% from the field while the Badgers were held to 35.1% shooting. The Badgers forced 11 turnovers but gave the ball back 17 times in the loss.
Women's basketball has earned the 6thseed headed into Saturday's North Atlantic Conference Tournament when they will face the University of Maine Farmington.