NASHUA, N.H. – A dominant defensive effort in the early going set the tone for the game as the Norwich University women's basketball team captured its second Great Northeast Athletic Conference win with a 61-47 decision over Rivier University in Muldoon Gymnasium. 

The win is the second consecutive tally for the Cadets improving their record to 6-12 overall and 2-3 within the GNAC. The loss sends the Raiders to an overall record of 4-13 with a 0-6 mark against the conference. 

Norwich welcomed two-fifths of its starting lineup back after having missed the past few games. The return of junior guard Emily Schromm (North Attleboro, Mass.) and senior forward KristieAnn DeSilivio (Chelmsford, Mass.) helped spark the Cadets to an early run.

The Cadets' defense caused Rivier to settle for shots from the outside and turn the ball over six times in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the visitors enjoyed success inside the paint registering four layups to run out to a 12-2 lead by the end of the stanza.

Norwich built upon its lead in the second period as junior guard Riley Bennett (Hopkinton, N.H.) scored eight of her team-leading 20 points to help the Cadets outscore the Raiders 18-12 and take a commanding 30-14 lead into the half.

The Cadets' double-digit lead never diminished for the remainder of the game as the visitors led by as many as 25 points late in the fourth quarter as they cruised to victory.

Norwich was guided by forward Kailynne Frederick's (Adams, Mass.) fifth career double-double. The junior shot 7-of-16 from the floor on her way to a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds to go with a pair of steals and a career-best three blocked shots. Bennett also finished with 20 points and a career-tying-high eight rebounds while DeSilvio netted seven for the Cadets. Freshman guard Katelyn DeSilvio (Chelmsford, Mass.) popped off the bench to score four points and grab three rebounds.

The Cadets will try to run their winning streak to three games as they host Albertus Magnus College on Saturday at 3 p.m.