Courtesy Norwich Sports Information
JOHNSON – Sophomore forward Arianna Harrison (Vernon, Vt.) led all scorers with a career-high 32 points, but it was not enough as the Norwich University women’s basketball team dropped a 71-61 decision to Johnson State College Wednesday night. With the loss, the Cadets fall to 4-2 overall, while Johnson State improves to 2-4 on the year.
Harrison scored 32 points on 13-18 shooting, including two from three-point range. She added nine rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block. Freshman forward Vanessa Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) added eight points and three rebounds, while classmate Aidan Pelish (Hyde Park, N.Y.) contributed seven points off the bench.
Four players scored in double digits for the Badgers with junior Allyson Bruckner (Barrnet, Vt.) posting a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds on the night. Junior forward Domonique Carter-Stanley (Norwalk, Conn.) put up 16 points and eight rebounds, while classmate Kasey DeGreenia (Concord, Vt.) contributed 12 points. Junior Sarah Voorhis (Nashua, N.H.) scored 10 points off and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench for Johnson State.
Norwich struck hard and fast from the get-go after sophomore guard Shyann Josler (Thetford, Vt.) nailed a three-pointer to make it 7-2 in the opening tip-off. Johnson State slowly clawed its way into the contest before a Nicole Menard’s (Milton, Vt.) jumper gave the Badgers their first lead of the game. Both teams traded baskets back and forth down the wire as Harrison made tying layup for the 14-14 score after 10 minutes of play.
The second quarter would see both teams trading baskets, resulting in three ties throughout the stanza. The Cadets led by as many as five points for the 27-24 score with just three minutes remaining in the first half. Johnson State quickly rebounded from the deficit with a 13-2 run for the 32-29 lead at the half.
Harrison drained in a jumper in hopes of an early rally from the deficit instead Bruckner shot back-to-back treys to shift the momentum in favor of the Badgers. The Cadets battled their way to trail by just two points at the 4:15 mark of the third quarter but could not overtake the lead as Johnson State held on for the 52-47 lead after 30 minutes of play.
Norwich trailed by as many as 10 points throughout the fourth quarter before cutting down to single digit at the 5:27 timeframe. The Cadets looked to comeback but could not get any momentum going, hitting just 33.3 percent of their shots in the stanza, while Johnson State continued the pressure and expanded the lead before the final horn sounded.
The Cadets shot 39.3 percent (24-61) from the floor but poor shooting from beyond the arc (4-19) and at the stripe (9-22) became a factor. Johnson State would finish the night hitting 38.5 percent of its shots and made 6-of-21 from beyond the arc and made 15-of-18 from the free throw line.
Norwich will return to action on Friday, Dec. 4 against Bay Path University in the first round of the annual Ed Hockenbury Classic. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. Johnson will return to action Saturday for the team’s first conference match of the year when it hosts New England College for a 1:00pm tip-off.