Lyndonville, VT - The University of Maine at Farmington outscored Vermont State University Lyndon 9-3 over the last four minutes of Friday's North Atlantic Conference women's basketball game, resulting in a 64-58 victory for the Beavers. UMF improved to 7-12 on the season and 4-5 in NAC play while Lyndon fell to 5-13 overall and 0-9 in conference.
The game was tightly contested in the early minutes, as neither team was able to build a lead of more than two points over the first eight and a half minutes. When UMF's Sarah Poli made one of two free throws, the teams were deadocked at 13-13 with 1:22 to go in the quarter. However, the final 1:11 of the quarter belonged to Lyndon's Riann Fortin (Newport, VT). Fortin converted a pair of free throws, then knocked down a short jumper, then made a three-pointer as the quarter ended to give the Hornets a 20-13 lead after one.
After Jessica Dow scored on the first Beaver possession of the second quarter, Fortin responded with a pari of free throws, then Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH) scored off of a UMF turnover to give Lyndon their biggest lead at 24-15. The Beavers began to chip away at the Hornet lead, however, and Melissa Mayo's layup tied the game at 26-26 at the 4:45 mark. The two teams went back and forth the remainder of the quarter, until Saleena Porter's (St. Johnsbury, VT) three-pointer just before the buzzer sent Lyndon into intermission with a 38-35 lead.
Back to back Dow layups to start the second half gave the Beavers a brief lead, but Smith's steal and layup put the Hornets back in front and Lyndon was able to nurse a slim lead for the rest of the quarter. After a Fortin layup gave the Hornets a 52-46 advantage, UMF's Ruby McMinis answered with a layup to make it 52-48, Lyndon heading into the final quarter.
Maddy White opened the final period with a three-pointer to bring UMF within one, then Poli's jumper gave the Beavers the lead with 8:34 to go. Both teams had good scoring opportunities over the next three minutes, but neither was able to convert. Dow broke the ice with a layup, but Smith's three ball tied the game at 55-55 with 4:45 to go.
Poli's free throw gave the Beavers back the lead, then a jumper from Jaycie Stevens made it a three point game with 3:29 to go. Fortin made one of two free throw to cut the lead to two, but Dow's rebound basket and free throw game the Beavers a 61-56 lead with just 36 seconds remaining. Fortin got a quick inside basket on the ensuing inbounds, but the Beavers made three of four free throws to seal the victory.
Dow led UMF with 25 points. Poli added ten points while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out five assists. Fortin paced Lyndon with a game high 28 points. Smith added 15 points and Kerigan Disorda (Benson, VT) grabbed a game high ten rebounds and recorded five assists.
Tonight's game was part of the national Coaches vs Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week. Coaches vs Cancer is a partnership between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society established to raise awareness and funds to aid in the fight against cancer. All proceeds from tonight's game went to the American Cancer Society.
The Hornets and Beavers will run it back on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off in Stannard Gymnasium is set for 3:00 pm.
