NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Erika Thomas (Burlington, N.C.) set a new career-high and classmate
Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) added double-digits, as the Norwich University women's basketball team kicked off the 2024 calendar year with a resounding 65-50 non-conference win over the University of Maine at Farmington in Andrews Hall on Thursday evening.
Thomas led the Cadets, going 6-9 from the floor with a 3-4 clip from long range to finish with a career-best 16 points in 18 minutes. Brewster also drilled a triage of treys, tallying 15 points, while
Mallorie Chalmers (Milton, Vt.) dished out a game-best five helpers.
The Cadets rolled to an early lead, courtesy of a trey from the top of the key from
Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.). Norwich and Maine-Farmington exchanged advantages before Brewster broke a 9-all deadlock to give the Cadets a lead they would never relinquish. McGinn closed an 11-3 run with a layup to send Norwich to the second quarter with an eight-point lead.
The floodgates opened in the second stanza, as Norwich outscored the Beavers, 23-9, with Thomas drilling one of her three treys before the halftime buzzer to grant the Cadets their largest lead of the evening at 22, 43-21, at the break.
The Beavers gradually whittled Norwich's lead down throughout the ensuing 20 minutes, but ultimately could not bring the contest back within single-digits, getting as close as 11 as the Cadets rolled to a 15-point victory.
The Cadets flourished in bench production, outscoring Maine-Farmington, 31-9. Norwich also owned a 10-6 edge in second chance points. The Cadets enjoyed productive showings from the floor and long range, finishing with marks of 37.3% on field goals and 31.8% on three-pointers, while holding the Beavers to a 28.1% overall clip and just 12.1% from outside.
Norwich will continue the three-game home-stand by returning to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday, Jan. 6, hosting the University of Saint Joseph in a 3:00 p.m. clash. The Cadets will then entertain Rivier University on Wednesday, Jan. 10, in Andrews Hall.