NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's basketball team tipped off the 2025 Ed Hockenbury Classic in resounding fashion on Friday evening, dominating from start to finish in a 75-30 win over Vermont State University Randolph in the opening round at Andrews Hall.

With the victory, the Cadets advance to Saturday afternoon's Hockenbury Classic Championship and will face fellow Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rival New England College in a non-conference showdown at 3:00 p.m.  The Pilgrims advanced after rallying from a 12-0 deficit to defeat the University of Maine at Fort Kent, 60-57, in Friday's nightcap.

Norwich was led by career-high performances from Siobhan O'Donnell (Queens, N.Y.) and Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.), who combined for 34 points on 13-19 shooting and a perfect 7-7 effort from the foul line.  O'Donnell logged 19 points, three assists, and three steals, while Kittredge added 15 points and seven rebounds.  Jade Garceau (Fairfield, Vt.) contributed nine points off the bench in just 14 minutes of action.

The Cadets took control early, forcing three straight turnovers to ignite an 8-0 run behind three Kittredge buckets and a fastbreak finish from O'Donnell.  The Knights trimmed the margin to six on two occasions, but Norwich stretched its lead back to double digits on scores by Garceau and Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.), carrying a 19-8 advantage into the second quarter.

Norwich opened the second period with a 7-0 burst to build an 18-point cushion.  The defense was smothering throughout the frame, holding VTSU Randolph to just five points on 15.4% shooting.  The Cadets closed the half with a fastbreak layup by Mackenzie Griner (Bristol, Vt.), taking a 36-13 lead into the break.

O'Donnell took over in the third, rattling off a personal 6-0 run in under a minute to push the lead over 30.  Norwich extended the margin to as much as 36 during the period and kept its foot on the gas, eventually growing the advantage to 46 late in the fourth after a three-pointer by Blythe McQuade (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) capped the scoring.

The Cadets dominated several categories, including points off turnovers (36-7), points in the paint (42-12), bench points (30-0), fastbreak points (24-2), and second chance points (13-2).  Norwich also outrebounded the Knights, 50-28, while tallying 20 steals and shooting 46.9% from the field.  The Cadets finished a perfect 11-11 at the charity stripe.

Saturday's Championship Game will serve as the first contest of the day, with Norwich and New England College tipping off at 3:00 p.m. at Andrews Hall.  The previously scheduled women's consolation game between VTSU Randolph and UMaine-Fort Kent has been canceled and will not be played.

Following the women's final, the men's portion of the 2025 Ed Hockenbury Classic will get underway, as Norwich takes on the University of Maine at Fort Kent at 6:00 p.m.  The nightcap will feature Western New England University and Eastern Connecticut State at 8:00 p.m.  Sunday's matchups will include a 1:00 p.m. consolation game and a 3:00 p.m. championship contest to crown the men's Hockenbury Classic winner.