Cobleskill, NY - Second seeded Vermont State University Lyndon fell behind third seeded Lesley University early and never recovered, dropping Friday evening's North Atlantic Conference quarterfinal contest to the Lynx, 62-58. Lesley improved to 11-15 with the win,while Lyndon closed the season at 10-15.
Lesley came out fast, scoring the first nine points of the game, capped by Mariana Richwine's transition basket that made it 9-0, Lynx, just over five minutes into the contest. Kiara Mack (Winooski, VT) finally got Lyndon on the board with a free throw at the 3:47 mark, and Kerign Disorda (Benson, VT) quickly followed with a three-pointer. However back to back threes from Lesley's Ahidali DeHuelbes and Bella Terry pushed the Lynx lead to double figures before Lyndon was able to cut the deficit back to eight points after one quarter.
Lesley started the second quarter the same way they started the first, scoring the first seven points of the period, capped by another Dehuelbes three ball, to open up their biggest lead at 25-10. Lyndon began to chip awy, however, and when Kadienne Whitcomb (West Burke, VT) connected on a three pointer of her own, the Hornets were back within five points at 28-23 with 2:45 remaining in the half. However Lesley's Leila Chisholm answered with a three, and the Lynx scored the final seven poitns of the half to take a 35-23 lead into intermission.
It was Lyndon that started fast in the third quarter, converting three Lesley turnovers into two Sage Smith (Colebrook, NH) baskets and and a Mack layup, cutting the Lesley lead in half. However Lesley was able to again extend the lead, pushing it out to 13 points following a Terry steal and layup, before Mack's three-point play brought the Hornets back within ten heading into the final quarter.
Lesley was able to maintain a double figure lead throughout most of the final quarter, before Lyndon strung together a couple of baskets in the final minute to bring the final margin to within four points.
Terry led all scorers with 20 points and added nine rebounds. DeHuelbes added 16 points and nine assists. Chisholm and Richwine chipped in with ten points apiece.
Mack led Lyndon with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Smith closed out her Lyndon career with 17 points. She finishes with 1,288 career points.
Lesley will advance to the NAC West semi-final, where they will take on top seed State University of New York at 'Cobleskill. Cobleskill overwhelemd fourth seed Vermotn State University Johnson, 92-70, in Friday's first quarterfinal matchup.
