Lady Knights Drop 1st Game of Season
November 27, 2012

Lady Knights Drop 1st Game of Season

Vellek scores 22, Baker notches double-double in loss

Box Score Box Score Box Score

JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State College women's basketball picked up a 58-52 non-conference win over visiting Vermont Technical College on Tuesday night at Carter Gymnasium.  The Badgers improve to 2-3 overall while Vermont Tech suffers their first loss of the season and are now 6-1.

Sophomore guard Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) scored a team-high 17 points while also recording seven rebounds, six steals and three assists for Johnson while freshman backcourt mate Mary Richardson (Vernon, Vt./Brattleboro) provided 15 points and a pair of steals.  Junior forward Jenessa Swainbank (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with six points and freshman wing Emily Jones (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury) came off the bench to supply six points and seven rebounds for JSC.

Vermont Tech was led by Kelly Vellek's (Burlington, Vt.) game-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Ama Baker (Fitchburg, Mass.) notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Paige Wells (Orleans, Vt.) hauled down a game-high 14 boards to go with seven points.

Both teams would earn a six-point lead during the first half with VTC grabbing an early 12-6 lead fueled by a pair of Vellek 3-pointers.  Johnson would surge ahead by six with 1:30 left in first half with Richardson scoring eight of her points and Robertson netting seven of her own.

After more back-and-forth play over the first seven minutes of the second half and Johnson holding a 36-34 lead perhaps the game's pivotal moment came when Baker fouled out of the game with 10:35 to play.  Baker was also assessed a technical foul after fouling out which kick-started 15-4 run by the Badgers making the score 51-38 with 6:31 to play.

VTC would make a push to within four points with 4:18 to go but back-to-back 3-pointers by Richardson and Robertson pushed lead back to double-figures and Johnson would earn the victory.

Johnson would hold the Green Knights to 24% shooting on the night and force 20 turnovers including 12 steals.  VTC would earn the 48-43 rebounding advantage, snaring 21 offensive caroms while doing so. 

The next games up for the Knights will be played in Maine as they face two YSCC opponents in Southern Maine CC and Central Maine CC. The games will take place in South Portland on Saturday versus Southern at 1pm, while Sunday's contest will be in Auburn with a start time of 12pm.