Bangor, ME - Fifth seed Northern Vermont Univsrsity-Lyndon stayed within striking distance of top seed Husson University for most of Friday's North Atlantic Conference women's basketball semi-final, but the Eagles were able to hold off the Hornets to come away with a 74-61 victory.  Husson improves to 18-8 on the season and advances to Saturday's NAC championship game, where they will face thrid seed University of Maine at Farmington, a 70-63 winner over second seed Maine Maritime Academy in Friday's second semi-final.  Lyndon concludes their season at 11-15.

Donovan Bailey's jump shot gave Husson an early 8-2 advantage just under three minutes into the contest.  With the Eagles leading 15-8, Lyndon's Faith Poirier (Portsmouth, NH) converted a pair of free throws and Alissa Mitchell (Milton, NH) followed with back to back three-pointers to give the Hornets their only lead at 16-15 wigth just under a minute to go in the opening quarter.  Back to back Bailey baskets put the Eagles back in front, 19-16, after one.

Poirier tied things with a three-pointer to open the second quarter scoring.  On Husson's next posessionJoan Overman found an open Emma Alley, who knocked down the shot to but the Eagles back in front.  The Eagles then held the Hornets scoreless for nearly five minutes, vuilding their lead back to 25-19 in the process.  Rylee Moore (Livermore, ME) broke the drought with a jumper, but Husson gradually opened up their lead.  When Cassie Urso connected from long range 12 seconds before halftime, the Eagles found themselves with a 37-27 lead.  Lyndon's Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, NH) then scored at the buzzer to leave Husson in front, 37-29, at the half.

Husson started the third quarter quickly.  Sydney Allen connected from three-point range, followed by baskets from Donovan and Sami Ireland.  Then a pair of Allen free throws made it 44-29 Husson at the 7:46 mark.  A Poirier three broke the ice for Lyndon, then the teams played on even terms for the bulk of the quarter before Mitchell went coast to coast and drained a three at the buzzer to cut Husson's lead to 55-46 after three quarters.

Alisha Celley (Cabot, VT) scored the first points of the final quarter to pull Lyndon within 55-48.  An Allen three put the lead back at ten, then Ireland found Overman for a score to build the lead back to 12.  After Celley scored, two more Allen threes extended the Husson advantage to 16 at 66-50 with 5:28 to go.  The Hornets weren't able to get back within single digits the rest of the way, as Husson cruised to the victory.

Allen led Husson with a game high 29 points on 10/13 shooting, including 4/6 from behind the three-point arc.  Donovan posted a double double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.  Ireland also reached double figures with 12 points and added eight rebounds.

Mitchell played all 40 minutes and led the Hornets with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.  She was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.  Mitchell concludes her Hornet career with 986 points scored.  Poirier added 13 points including three three-point goals.  Celley and Crompton chipped in with 12 and 11 points respectively.

The Hornets were 22/56 (39.3%) from the floor, including 7/15 (46.7%) from distance, and 10/11 (90.9%) from the foul line.  Husson was 30/68 (44.1%) from the floor, 5/15 (33.3%) from three, and 9/16 (56.3%) from the line.  The difference in the game was on the glass, where Husson owned a commanding 48-22 rebounding advantage, leading to a 21-2 margin on second chance points.  Both teams turned the ball over 12 times.

The Hornet season ends in the NAC semi-finals for the second consecutive year.  Friday's game was the final one for Mitchell, Celley, and Moore.  Crompton, Poirier, Shaylan Mosher (Newark, VT), Ashlynn Bardos (Beaumont, CA), Lauren Young (Concord, VT), and Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) are exprected to return to form the nucleus of the 2020-21 team.