Lady Knights' Season Ends in Elite Eight
February 15, 2013

Lady Knights' Season Ends in Elite Eight

SMCC Defeats VTC 66-56

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Auburn, ME - The Vermont Tech Lady Knights' season came to a close in the Elite Eight of the Yankee Small College Conference Tournament, held in Auburn, Maine on the campus of Central Maine Community College, with a loss to Southern Maine Community College.

After a slow start that saw the Seawolves build a 31-18 halftime advantage, the Knights fought back in the second half but were not able to catch SMCC. Vermont Tech did outscore the Seawolves 38-35 in the second period, but still lost in the end, 66-56.

Nyalieb Deng was perhaps the key to the game for SMCC, as she scored 20 and brought down 16 rebounds. She used her length incredibly well, not allowing VTC to take any easy rebounds and allowing for SM many second chances to score. In the end, the Seawolves held a 54-36 advantage on the boards. Also in double figures for SM was Tiana Burton with 15 points, Alicia Hoyt with 14 and Yaritza Tejada with 11.

The Lady Knights were led in scoring by Senior Kelly Vellek (Burlington, VT). Playing in her final collegiate contest Vellek played every single minute of the game, scoring 21 points. She finishes her career as one of the as one of the top scorers in Vermont Tech history, and second on the list of scorers in VTC history in terms of Women's Basketball. She is only the second women's basketball player to eclipse the 1,000 point barrier.

Ama Baker (Jr./Fitchburg, MA) scored 15 points for VTC, going 10/12 from the free throw line. Paige Wells (So./Orleans, VT), playing on a bad ankle, completed her late tear securing another double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Lady Knights experienced one of the most successful seasons in recent Vermont Tech Women's Basketball memory. Not only were they a 10-win team, they defeated a number of new teams including NAIA and NCAA DIII opponents, Vellek hit a career goal of 1,000 points and they secured the #2 seed in the Western Division of the YSCC. The team not only has much to be proud of, but also much encouragement in terms of working to be even more successful next year.