Lyndonville, VT - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon saw an 11-point lead dwindle down to one midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday's women's college basketball game.  The Hornets were able to make enough plays down the stretch to hold off Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and come away with a 69-65 victory.  Lyndon improves to 5-2 on the season while MCLA remains winless in 10 starts.

The Hornets jumped out to a six point lead after one quarter.  However the visiting Trailblazers went on a 10-2 run to open the second stanza, and took their first lead following a Brooke DiGennaro three-pointer with 7:49 to go in the half.  After Riann Fortin (Derby, VT) tied things on Lyndon's next possession, back to back threes from Emily Burke gave MCLA what would turn out to be their largest lead at 26-20.  The Hornets would respond with a 14-0 run, capped by a Kerigan Disorda (Benson, VT) three-pointer.  Lyndon would eventually head into halftime with a 36-27 advantage.

MCLA scored the first eight points of the second half on a DiGennaro layup and a pair of Burke three-pointers to pull within one point at 36-35.  Lyndon would again steady things, however, and expand their lead back to seven points after three quarters.

The Hornets appeared to have control of the game when Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, NH) found Fortin for a layup to extend the lead to double figures at 55-44 with 8:21 to go in the game.  Again MCLA responded, going on a 10-0 run of their own to cut the Lyndon lead to 55-54 following a Maddie Teta layup with 6:03 to go.  Back to back layups from Crompton followed by a Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) layup built the Hornet lead back to seven points with just 2:44 to go.

DiGennaro then hit a three to cut the lead to four, but Fortin responded with an inside basket.  DiGennaro's basket cut the lead to four with 57 seconds remaining, but Crompton knocked down two free throws to put the lead back at six.  A three from Burke made it a one possession game again, but Fortin was then fouled and made both to put Lyndon back up five with 18 seconds on the clock.  A Teta three with 11 seconds to go made it a two-point game, but Disorda sealed the win by making a pair of free throws with four seconds to go.

Fortin and Crompton had 21 points apiece to pace the Hornets.  Fortin competed her double double with 10 rebounds and Crompton recorded a game high seven assists.  Disorda also reached double figures with 11 points.  Burke led MCLA with a game high 25 points while Teta and DiGennaro chipped in with 18 and 10 points respectively.  The Trailblazers' Hannah Mazzeo pulled down a game high 20 rebounds.

The Hornets are now off until January 7th, when they travel to SUNY Polytechnic Institute for a North Atlantic Conference crossover contest.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.