NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's basketball team continued its fast start to the 2025-26 campaign with a dominant showing on Tuesday evening, rolling past visiting Gordon College, 94-63, in a non-conference matchup inside Andrews Hall.
The Cadets improved to 2-0 behind a balanced offensive outburst that featured four players in double-figures, led by freshmen
Maggi Ellsworth (West Topsham, Vt.) and
Gracie Laster (Arlington, Va.), who each poured in 18 points. Ellsworth recorded her first collegiate double-double in just 22 minutes of action, adding 11 rebounds and four assists, while Laster dropped her 18 points in just 15 minutes off the bench.
Kiley O'Brien (Kingston, Mass.) chipped in 14 points on 7-9 shooting in 13 minutes, and
Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.) rounded out the double-digit performers with 10 points, including a buzzer-beating layup to end the first half. The quartet combined to shoot an efficient 74.2% (26-35) from the floor, fueling a Norwich offense that finished the night at 58.2% overall.
The Cadets wasted little time establishing themselves, opening the game with back-to-back buckets from O'Brien and
Mallorie Chalmers (Milton, Vt.). Gordon briefly claimed a pair of one-point leads midway through the first quarter, but a timely three from Laster sparked an 11-3 run to close the frame with a 21-14 advantage.
After a quick Gordon bucket to start the second quarter, Norwich surged with six straight points, capped by a layup from
Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.) to extend the lead to double digits. A late steal and finish by Collins pushed the margin to 19 heading into the break, giving the Cadets full control at halftime.
Norwich locked down defensively to open the third, holding the Fighting Scots scoreless for over six minutes while stretching the lead to 32 on a fastbreak by
Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.). Gordon responded with a short burst to trim the gap to 26, but the Cadets closed the frame strong to take a 67-34 lead into the fourth.
The final stanza saw Norwich claim its largest lead of the night, a 43-point cushion, after Ellsworth converted a layup in transition with 3:57 to go. Gordon strung together a late run, but it was far too late to threaten as the Cadets closed out the 31-point win.
Norwich dominated the interior with a 58-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 56-34 edge on the boards. The Cadet bench outscored Gordon's reserves, 61-20, and Norwich racked up 25 assists and 10 steals on the night.
The Cadets now begin a four-game road stretch to close the month of November, starting with a Friday night trip to Plymouth State University. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. in Plymouth, N.H., followed by a visit to Middlebury College on Tuesday, Nov. 18, for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
