Vermont Tech advances to the Final Four

Vermont Tech advances to the Final Four
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February 24, 2014

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Vermont Tech defeated College of St. Joe's (Vermont) 71-54 in the opening round of the Yankee Small College Conference Elite 8 Tournament to advance to the Final Four. This is the first time the Lady Knights have advanced to the YSCC Final Four in at least 10 years. The Knights will face the winner of the 8:00 game between the number one seed Central Maine Community College and eight seeded Unity College.

Vermont Tech was led by Junior Paige Wells (Orleans, VT), who scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, while teammates Ama Baker (Fitchburg, MA) and Kaitlin Lyford (Barre, VT) both scored 15. Haille Burkart (Plainsfield, VT) came off the bench to score 11 for the Knights.

The Saints struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 25% as Vermont Tech took a 31-22 lead into the locker room. Saint Joe's opened up the second half with a 14-4 run, and tied the game at 41 on a layup by Gilchrist with 12:33 remaining. Speight followed with a rebound to give St. Joe's their first lead since early in the first half. Both teams traded the lead several times over the next few minutes, but Vermont Tech was able to draw the fouls, knocking down seven consecutive free throws to regain the lead.
St. Joe's had four players in double-digits, as Ashley Bathalon led the way with 16 points, including four baskets from behind the arch. Chontayvia Kennedy and Shaionica Speight both scored 12, while Anastasia Rodriguez dropped ten. Batholon also led the Saints on the boards with 15 and had eight assists on the night. Speight turned in a double-double performance with 12 rebounds, and Nia Gilchrist was in double-digits in rebounds, with 11.
The Knights were 17-27 from the free throw line in the second half, closing out regulation with a 15-4 run, eight points of which came from the free throws.