Box Score NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The Norwich University women's basketball team dropped a 60-51 loss to the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University on Thursday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action from Andrews Hall.
With the loss, the Cadets fall to 9-15 overall and 3-8 in GNAC action, while the win boosts the visiting Wildcats to 12-12 overall and 7-4 in league play.
Norwich saw three players score in double-figures including a game-high of 16 points by sophomore Aliah Curry (Windsor, Mass.). Senior Jessalyn Sweeney (Stanfordville, N.Y.) notched a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, while junior Kristin Brown (Williamstown, Vt.) also finished with 10 points. Senior Kristine Brammer (Littleton, N.H.) contributed six points and 10 rebounds.
The Cadets led by as many as eight points in the early minutes of the second half, but with 10:15 left to play Johnson & Wales' Natalie DiCocco connected on a layup to give the Wildcats their first lead of the second half at 40-39.
The Wildcats would force back-to-back Norwich turnovers before extending their lead to four points on a three-point basket by Jenna Juron. Norwich would claw their way back to tie the score at 45-45 with 4:56 to play, but Johnson & Wales would not surrender the lead as they used two made free throws by Toth and a three pointer by DiCocco to extend the lead to five.
DiCocco would total six points and Chrissy Toth added two in the final 2:30 of the game to extend the lead to 11 points with 11 seconds to play. A last-second layup by Brammer would set the final score at 60-51.
The two teams battled through a first half that saw 13 lead changes and six ties. Norwich recorded the largest lead of the half with 1:07 left to play as a good free-throw by Curry gave the Cadets a six point advantage. Neither team would score for the final minute of the game, allowing Norwich to carry the 30-24 lead into halftime.
Four different players reached double-figures in scoring for Johnson & Wales. Juron totaled a team-high 14 points, while Ayla Walter and DiCocco both added 13 points.
Marina Millian rounded out the top scorers for the Wildcats with 11 points. Walter and Samantha Hendrick both totaled a team-high six rebounds, while Juron posted a game-high four assists.
Prior to the tip-off, Norwich recognized seniors Jessalyn Sweeney and Brammer for their contributions to the program. The Cadets also recognized student-assistant coach Chelsey Dion and managers Brittany Ramsay and Jennifer Smith.
At halftime, Norwich head coach Mark Zacher presented Curry with the game ball from Feb. 2's win against Anna Maria in which she recorded her 1,000th career point, becoming the first sophomore in GNAC history to reach the milestone.
Norwich returns to action on Saturday as it travels to Simmons College for the final game of the season at 12:00 p.m.
Head Coach Mark Zacher, Athletic Director Tony Mariano and Assistant Coach Courtney Nyce present sophomore guard Aliah Curry her 1,000 point game ball.
