Waterville, ME - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon jumped out to a huge early lead, then had to get off the deck after Thomas College came all the way back to escape with a 73-67 North Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory.  With the win, the Hornets even their overall record at 9-9 and improve their conference record to 3-7.  Thomas falls to 2-16 and 1-8 in the NAC.  The win was also Lyndon's first in NAC East play and moves them one game in front of the Terriers.

Lyndon came out of the gates hot.  With the score tied at 4-4 just over two minutes into the contest, Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) converted a pair of free throws to give the Hornets the lead and ignite a 10-0 run that would be capped by a Faith Poirier (Portsmouth, NH) three-pointer.  Thomas would get back to within eight following a Kayle Ravagli three-pointer, but Lyndon would close the quarter on a 10-0 run to lead 29-11 after one.

Thomas got back into the game as the second quarter got underway.  The Terriers capitalized on Hornet turnovers and suddenly cold shooting to score the first 11 points.  When Charlene Butera scored in transition, the Hornet advangtage was down to 29-22 with 7:32 remaining before halftime.  Lyndon was able to steady things and push the lead back to 14 following a Kerigan Disorda (Benson, VT) jumper, but Thomas scored the final eight points of the half to close to within 40-34 at intermission.

Thomas kept the momentum as the teams returned to the court following halftime.  When Ravagli connected on a three-pointer at the 6:33 mark, the Terriers pulled even for the first time since the game's opening minutes.  After Riann Fortin's (Derby, VT) free throw briefly put the Hornets back in front, the Terriers' Anna Pirainen scored inside to give Thomas their first lead of the game, 44-43, with 6:01 to go in the quarter.  A Poirier three-pointer put Lyndon up, 48-46, at the 3:08 mark, but Ravagli would answer with a three on the next trip down the court.  That would turn out to be the last basket of the quarter and send Thomas into the final quarter with a 49-48 lead.

Poirier drained another three on the first possession of the final quarter to put Lyndon back in front.  A Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH) layup extended the Hornet lead to 53-49 with 8:28 remaining.  Thomas hung around, however, and when Samantha Fortin scored following a Lyndon turnover, the game was tied again at 55-55.  Porter converted both free throws the next time down the court to put Lyndon back in front, but the Hornets were unable to extend their advantage.

Thomas would not go away, however, and when Samantha Fortin scored at the basket with 3:31 to go, the Terriers had a 60-59 lead.  Disorda's driving layup quickly put Lyndon back in front, but a Ravagli three put Thomas up two, 63-61, with 2:49 to go.  Disorda tied things up, but Pirainen found Samantha Fortin for a layup to put the Terriers back in front with 2:05 to go.

Lyndon's Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, NH) put Lyndon back up by one with a three-pointer with 1:47 left, but Thomas answered with a Charlene Butera layup 18 seconds later to regain the lead.  After the two teams traded turnovers, Crompton scored to put the Hornets in front, 68-67, with 41 seconds to go.  The Hornet defense stiffened the rest of the way, as Thomas didn't score again and the Hornets sealed the game from the foul line.

Poirier and Crompton led Lyndon with 22 points apiece.  Smith was the only other Hornet in double figures, ending the night ith 14 points.  Ravagli led Thomas with a game high 29 point effort.  Samantha Fortin finished with 11 points and Brianne Benecke pulled down a game high 12 rebounds and dished out a game high 10 assists.

Lyndon connmected on 25 of 55 shots (45.5%), including seven of 17 (41.2%) from behind the three-point arc.  Thomas made 26 of their 58 attempts (44.8%), including six of 15 (40.0%) from distance.  The Terriers held a 32-26 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over 28 times, compared to 23 for Lyndon.

The Hornets will close out the regular season this weekend with a pair of NAC games at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  Friday's tip-off will be at 7:00 pm, with Saturday's rematch set to start at 3:00 pm.