Johnson, VT – Vermont State University Lyndon used a dominant defensive performance and a decisive third quarter to defeat host Vermont State University Johnson, 58-28, Sunday afternoon and capture its fourth consecutive Vermont State University Tip-Off Classic championship at Carter Gymnasium.
Lyndon held Johnson to 20.6 percent shooting from the field and forced 24 turnovers while never trailing after the opening minutes.
Nei'Shae Clegg (Coolidge, AZ) opened the scoring with a layup before Johnson's Jacquelyn Oberg tied the game at 2-2. That was the only tie of the contest. Skylar Begay (Tucson, AZ) answered with a three-pointer to put the Hornets back in front, 5-2, and Lyndon gradually built its advantage.
After Johnson pulled within 8-7 midway through the opening quarter on a three-pointer by Myabelle Begay, the Hornets closed the period on a 6-0 run. Taliyah Carter (Ozark, AL) scored to start the surge before Clegg added a layup and Skylar Begay connected from beyond the arc to give Lyndon a 14-7 advantage after one quarter.
The Hornets extended their lead during the second quarter despite shooting just 4-for-18 from the field in the period. Lyndon's defense held Johnson to 4-for-16 shooting as the Hornets took a 24-16 advantage into halftime.
Lyndon broke the game open coming out of the locker room. The Hornets shot 9-for-17 from the field in the third quarter and outscored Johnson, 20-6, to take a commanding 44-22 lead into the final period. Lyndon then closed the championship game with a 14-6 fourth quarter to secure the 30-point victory.
Skylar Begay led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, while adding nine rebounds and four steals. Clegg scored 17 points and collected eight rebounds while recording a game-high six steals on her way to capturing tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
Kaitlyn Frydenlund (Westminster, CO) added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Carter finished with nine points, a game-high eight assists and three steals. Diana Tafoya (Arlington, VT) was held scoreless but tied Skylar Begay for the team lead with nine rebounds as Lyndon finished even with Johnson, 45-45, on the glass.
Johnson was led by Forest Skillman and Myabelle Begay, who scored eight points apiece. Skillman also grabbed nine rebounds, while Oberg finished with six points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Hornets shot 36.5 percent from the field and held a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint. Lyndon also scored 17 points off Johnson turnovers and finished with 19 steals. The Badgers made just 13 of 63 field-goal attempts and connected on only 2 of 18 three-point attempts.
The All-Tournament Team consisted of Clegg, Frydenlund and Carter of Lyndon, Myabelle Begay and Skillman of VTSU Johnson, Cierra Grant of Verfmont Statre University Randolph and Marlie Brummer of Paul Smith's College.
VTSU Randolph defeated Paul Smith's, 103-25, in Sunday's consolation game.
The Hornets will return to the court next weekend when they travel to Boston, MA, for the Emmanuel College Tip-Off Tournament. Lyndon will face host Emmanuel on Saturday at 3:00 p.m., before taking on either Bowdoin College or the State University of New York at Oneonta next Sunday.
