NASHUA, N.H. – Senior Kayla Mercer (New Britain, Conn.) scored a team-leading 19 points as the Norwich University women's basketball team posted a 73-69 loss to Rivier University on Saturday. 

The Cadets fall to 9-7 overall on the year and to 5-4 within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Rivier moves to 4-11 on the season while earning its second league win in eight chances. 

Mercer made five three-point baskets, leading her team in point scoring while collecting six rebounds. Junior Arianna Harrison (Vernon, Vt.) scored 18 points and reeled in seven rebounds, tying for the team lead with senior Leanne Winans (Hudson, N.H.). Senior Heather LeBlanc (Sanford, Maine) scored 16 points alongside six rebounds and five assists. 

Norwich opened up an 11-point lead following a Mercer three-point basket with 3:47 to go in the first quarter, but Rivier countered with a strong second quarter offensive attack. Cutting the Cadets lead to as little as three points to begin the second stanza, Norwich would rebuild its lead to 10 points before a 13-0 run by the Raiders stunned the visitors. 

A late three-point basket by Rebecca DeBaldo would create a 37-33 lead at the half. Ultimately, Rivier outscored Norwich by a 10-to-6 margin in the paint and capitalized on 10 first-half Cadets turnovers to the tune of seven points. 

LeBlanc would follow a Mercer three-point basket with a layup in the paint, elevating the Cadets to a 45-39 lead with 7:11 left in the third. Rivier would take the lead with a fast-break layup from DeBaldo with 2:20 left in the third quarter as Norwich would not lead for the remainder of the contest. 

Ahead by three points entering the fourth quarter, the Cadets would keep the Rivier lead to a maximum of four points. A clutch LeBlanc layup with exactly 60 seconds left would cut the hosts lead to 70-69, but with the Cadets forced to foul, the Raiders made three of their final four free throws to collect the win. 

DeBaldo led all Rivier players with 13 points while Caitlin Bulger scored nine points. DeBaldo also reeled in five rebounds. 

The Cadets return to Northfield, Vt. for three-straight home contests. Norwich welcomes Lyndon State to town this Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.