Box Score 

NEWTON, Mass. - Erica Rate scored a team-high 11 points, and Marie Girard added 10 points as the Norwich University women's basketball pounded Mount Ida, 75-41, in the team's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener Saturday afternoon.

Laurel McWilliams chipped in nine points for the Cadets, who improve to 8-4 (1-0 GNAC). Ally Daniels posted eight points, while Christine Daniels netted seven.

Norwich jumped all over Mount Ida, outscoring the Mustangs 20-2 over the first seven minutes of the game. An 11-7 Mount Ida run cut the NU lead down to 27-13 at the 6:07 mark, but the Cadets ended the first half on a 15-2 spurt to take a commanding 42-15 advantage into halftime.

The Cadets shot a blistering 54.5 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes as they put the game away early. The Mustangs hit only 26.1 percent of their shots in the first half.

Norwich extended its lead to as many as 39 points in the second half, and the Cadets were never threatened en route to the victory.

Twelve different Norwich players scored in the game. NU shot 47.7 percent from the floor for the game, while Mount Ida shot only 30.4 percent. The Cadets outrebounded the Mustangs, 44-35.

Mount Ida (4-8, 0-1 GNAC) was led by Cherie Parisi, who scored a game-high 14 points. Ashley Boyd added eight points for the Mustangs.

Norwich returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 13, when the Cadets host GNAC rival St. Joseph (Conn.) at Andrews Hall. Tip-off for the conference contest is set for 5:30 p.m.