UTICA, N.Y. - Despite a furious second-half rally and 53 points from its bench, the Norwich University women's basketball team came up just short in a 75-67 setback to Utica University on Tuesday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center.

The Cadets outscored Utica from the floor and mounted multiple fourth-quarter charges, trimming the deficit to as little as three in the closing minutes.  Sophomore Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) spearheaded the effort with a career-high 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers while adding four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.

Maggi Ellsworth (West Topsham, Vt.) and Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.) also reached double figures off the bench, tallying 12 and 10 points, respectively.  Jade Garceau (Fairfield, Vt.) and Siobhan O'Donnell (Queens, N.Y.) contributed key baskets in a fourth-quarter push that brought Norwich within striking distance late.

Utica never trailed in the contest, opening with a transition triple just over a minute in.  The Cadets quickly answered through Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.), but an early 11-0 Pioneer run created separation.  Norwich fought back to keep the margin manageable, using contributions from Garceau, Gracie Laster (Arlington, Va.), and Mallorie Chalmers (Milton, Vt.) to cut into the gap, but trailed 23-12 after the opening quarter.

Norwich narrowed the deficit in the second, opening with seven straight points off makes from Ellsworth, Briggs, and Collins.  A 6-0 Cadet run late in the period, highlighted by a traditional three-point play from Laster and a deep triple by Briggs, sliced the margin to six.  Utica responded in the closing seconds with a jumper to take a 37-29 lead into halftime.

The Pioneers rebuilt a double-digit cushion midway through the third, stretching their lead to as much as 14.  THe Cadets responded again, closing the quarter on an 11-6 spurt as Garceau, Briggs, and Ellsworth powered a momentum swing into the final frame.

Kittredge and O'Donnell opened the fourth with back-to-back layups to cut the margin to five.  Norwich twice drew within three in the final minutes but was unable to complete the comeback, as Utica closed the contest with nine free throws in the final 1:38 to ice victory.

Norwich dominated several statistical categories, including a 53-19 edge in bench points and a 36-28 lead in paint scoring.  The Cadets forced 19 turnovers and connected on 40.3% of their shots, including 50.0% (6-12) from beyond the arc.  The difference ultimately came at the free-throw line, where Utica held an 18-7 advantage.

The Cadets will return to Andrews Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 2, for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference showdown against SUNY Cobleskill.  They will then host the annual Ed Hockenbury Classic from Dec. 5-6, welcoming Vermont State University Randolph, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and New England College.