Lyndonville, VT - Tuesday evening's regular season finale between the two Northern Vermont University women's basketball teams produced plenty of offensive fireworks on both sides. In a game that was tied after each of the first three quarters, it was NVU-Johnson that surged ahead in the final quarter to earn the 92-86 North Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory. Johnson improved to 12-11 on the season and evened their conference record at 7-7. Lyndon fell to 10-14 overall and 6-8 in the NAC.
The opening half was tightly contested throughout. Five straight points from Lyndon's Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH) gave the Hornets a six point advantage, the biggest lead by either team in the half, with 4:51 to go before intermission. The Badgers responded with a 7-0 run and regained the lead on Devyn Thompson's three-point goal. Kerigan Disorda's (Benson, VT) jumper put Lyndon back in front. Then after the Badgers' Hattie Moriatry tied things with a free throw, Lyndon's Kiara Mack (Winooski, VT) and Johnson's Gabrielle Wardwell traded baskets to sent the teams into halftime tied at 40-40.
The third quarter was more of the same. Neither team was able to build a lead of more than four points and there were eight lead changes in the stanza. When the dust settled, the two teams headed into the final quarter tied at 65-65.
Wardwell scored on the first two possessions of the final quarter to put Johnson back in front by four. The Badgers began to slowly open up some distance, and pushed their lead out to nine following Wardwell's layup with 5:25 to go. Lyndon was able to get back as close as four points at the 2:31 mark, but that was as close as it would get as the Badgers held off the Hornets to secure the win.
Paris Atuahene scored a game high 32 points, including 10/10 from the foul line, and added seven assists for Johnson. Emma Buonanno added 22 points and nine rebounds. Wardwell had a huge game around the basket with 16 points and 22 rebounds. Thompson also hit double figures with 14 points.
Smith had a big game to lead the Hornets. She finished with 29 points on 10/19 shooting, including 7/13 from behind the three-point arc. Ryan Fortin (Derby, VT) and Christina McKivergan (Essex, VT) chipped in wiht 16 and 14 points respectively. Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) had a near double double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
Prior to tonight's game, the Hornets honored Porter, their lone senior. She was joined by her parents and teammates, and presented with a gift in appreciation for al of her contributions to the Lyndon women's basketball program. Hailey Demers, a senior and founder of the Lyndon Stingers Dance Team was also recognized, as were the senior members of the Johnson team.
The Hornets now turn their attention to the North Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament. Lyndon will face Maine Maritime Academy in the tournament quarterfinals Friday evening at 5:30 pm at Maine Maritime.
