NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's basketball team outscored Anna Maria College 11-2 in overtime negating the AMCATS fourth-quarter comeback to pull out a 69-60 win in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening at Andrews Gym. 

The win could turn out to be incredibly important as the AMCATS and the Cadets were tied for the final playoff spot prior to the game. With four conference games remaining, tonight's win may be a critical first step towards a playoff push. 

Norwich (7-13, 3-4 GNAC) was the more aggressive team in the early going building up a quick 9-2 lead in the first four and a half minutes capped by a trey from junior guard Riley Bennett (Hopkinton, N.H.). 

Anna Maria (6-15, 2-5 GNAC) received a three-pointer from Sienna Johnson to cut the lead to 14-11 near the end of the first quarter. However, the Cadets strung together a trio of three-pointers and back-to-back layups from junior forward Kailynne Frederick (Adams, Mass.) to expand its lead to 27-13 at the 6:38 mark of the second quarter. 

A 12-2 run by the AMCATS punctuated by another triple from Johnson cut the lead to 29-25 with just over a minute and a half to go in the second period. 

A pair of free throws by Frederick combined with a jumper from junior guard Emily Schromm (North Attleboro, Mass.) offset a layup from the AMCATS' Johnson allowing the Cadets to take a 33-27 lead into the break. 

Five-straight points by the AMCATS closed the gap to 33-32 a minute and a half into the third quarter. 

After trading baskets, the Cadets pulled away courtesy of a 12-0 run powered by a combined 9 points from Bennett and junior guard Julia Vigorito (Malden, Mass.) to lead 47-34. 

A 5-0 run by the visitors to end the quarter brought the AMCATS to within 52-43 heading in the fourth quarter. 

A Frederick layup started the Cadets on the right foot in the final stanza, but the full-court press implemented by Anna Maria reaped great results as the visitors climbed all the back and took their first lead of the game 56-54 with a 13-0 run. Johnson scored seven points during the run for the AMCATS. 

Norwich used the speed of Schromm to help break the press which resulted in four-straight points to give the Cadets the lead once again at 58-56.

Sierra Johnson knotted the game at 58-58 with 31 seconds left giving the hosts an opportunity to win the game on their last shot. However, Bennett missed a tough jumper from just inside the arc as time expired sending the teams into the extra frame. 

Norwich scored the first six points of the overtime quickly taking the wind out of the AMCATS' sails as the hosts defended well to the end and hit enough of their free throws down the stretch. 

Norwich outclassed the AMCATS on the boards earning a 51-40 edge. The Cadets used a short bench with their starters playing heavy minutes which resulted in Anna Maria's reserves posting a 12-0 scoring advantage. 

Bennett topped her career-best with 27 points on 10-of-22 shooting including a 5-of-11 performance from three-point land. Frederick also scored a career-high netting 23 points in addition to a game-high 15 rebounds. Schromm was the third Cadet to set a career-mark in scoring tallying 11 points with seven boards and five dimes. Senior forward KristieAnn DeSilvio (Chelmsford, Mass.) tied Schromm for the lead in assists with five which was also a career-high. 

Norwich will close out its non-conference schedule on Thursday when it travels to face SUNY Delhi at 5:30 p.m.