Johnson, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon women's basketball team shook off a sluggish start to open up a 16-point fourth quarter lead, then hold off Vermont State University Johnson, 67-61, in Saturday afternoon's North Atlantic Conference contest. Lyndon improved to 3-5 on the season, while Johnson remained winless in eight outings. The game was the NAC opener for both teams.
Lyndon jumped out to an early 6-2 lead on a pair of Kiara Mack (Winooski, VT) baskets, sandwiched around a pair of Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH) free throws. The Hornets would hit a dry spell, however, as Johnson ran off nine straight points, while Lyndon couldn't find the mark for the rest of the quarter.
Johnson's Rukiya Awayle connected on a three-pointer on the first possession of the second quarter, giving the Badgers what would turn out to be their biggest lead at 14-6. Lyndon would rally, however, and Ella Huntington's (Taylorsville, UT) fast break layup at the 4:41 mark put the Hornets back in front, 19-18. A Smith three ball would push the lead to four. Then after Johnson's Riann Fortin converted a free throw, another Hornet three, this time from Riley Webster (Upton, MA) would extend the Lyndon lead to six. Johnson's Chris Sandlin knocked down a jump shot for the final basket of the half, sending Lyndon into intermission with a 25-21 advantage.
Lyndon would quickly push their lead to double figures, as the Hornets opened the third quarter on a quick 7-0 run, featuring a Smith three, a Mack post up, and a Huntington transition score. Johnson was able to cut the Hornet lead to five on a pair of occasions in the period, but Kerigan Disorda's (Benson, VT) three-pointer to close the period send Lyndon into the final stanza with a 46-38 advantage.
As the final quarter unfolded, Lyndon looked like they were going to put the game away. The Hornets gradually extended their advantage, and three straight layups from Smith, Huntington, and Smith again put Lyndon in front, 65-49, with 3:21 to go. After Fortin connected on a three for Johnson, Chloe McIntire (Badford, VT) scored on a putback to make it 67-52 with just 1:55 to go. The Badgers closed the game on a 9-0 run, but it was too little, too late as Lyndon came away with the victory.
Smith topped all scorers with 27 points, including five three-point goals. She also pulled down nine rebounds. Huntington reached double figures with ten points and dished out five assists. Disorda added nine points and six assists and Mack finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Fortin scored 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists to lead Johnson. Awayle also reached double figures with 15 points.
Lyndon will close out the fall semester on Tuesday evening when they host Norwich University in a 6:00 pm non-conference matchup.
