Lyndonville, VT- The Vermont State University Lyndon women's basketball team lost a very close game against the Plymouth State University Panthers by a score of 66-65 on Monday evening. The Hornets fell to 10-14 for the season. The Panthers improved their record to 5-18.
Both teams were shooting the ball well to start the game, but it was the Hornets who later took control of the game in the second quarter. Lyndon played very good defense, holding Plymouth State to 12% in the quarter. The Hornets also continued to score efficiently, shooting 46% from the floor and 44% from the three-point line in the quarter. The Hornets finished the first half with an eight point lead.
As the second half began, Lyndon would continue to maintain the lead. However the Panthers would make a comeback to cut the lead to one midway through the third quarter. Lyndon would hold onto that one point lead heading into the final period.
The entire fourth quarter was a back and forth showdown between both teams. Plymouth State took a four point lead following a Raegan Peck layup with 3:30 to go. However Lyndon cut the lead down to one point on a huge three-pointer by junior guard Kadienne Whitcomb (West Burke, VT). The Hornets would then take a one point lead on a pair of big free throws from Whitcomb. With Lyndon leading by two and 22 seconds remaining, the Panthers tied the game with two clutch free throws from Hailey Malozzi, sending the teams to overtime with the score tied at 59-59.
Whitcomb started overtime with a three-point shot. The Panthers made it a one point game on a layup from Peck, but the lead went back up to three points on a layup from senior guard Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH). Peck then connected on a three-pointer to tie the game with 1:42 to go in the extra session. With 21 seconds left, Smith was fouled and put the Hornets back up to one point after making one of two free throws. With 13 seconds left, Malozzi got fouled and tied the game by making one of two free throws. Lyndon then had a chance to win the game, but Plymouth State forced a turnover and Sabrina Vlahovic got fouled. She made the second of two free throws to give Plymouth a 66-65 lead, then Lyndon was unable to score on their final possession.
The leading scorer for Plymouth State was Peck with 19 points. She was followed by Malozzi, who almost had a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Smith led the Hornets with 21 points and seven rebounds. She was followed by Whitcomb who scored 18 points with five three-pointers. Junior forward Kiara Mack (Milton, VT) had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hornets will now head to Cobleskill to face off against Lesley University to start the North Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament this Friday. Tip-off will be at 7:30 pm.
