HENNIKER, N.H. - The Norwich University women's basketball team squared off with New England College in a critical Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rematch on Wednesday evening, coming up short in a 59-49 decision to the Pilgrims inside Bridges Gym.

Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.) paced the Cadets with a game-high 19 points on 7-17 shooting.  Kiley O'Brien (Kingston, Mass.) chipped in eight points, while Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, VT.) anchored the effort on the glass with 12 rebounds to go with five assists.

Norwich struck first on the opening possession, as O'Brien buried a jumper off a feed from Briggs.  After the Pilgrims took their first lead on a triple, Briggs answered with one of her own to briefly reclaim the edge.  New England College took its final lead of the quarter with 5:54 remaining, but the Cadets responded with an 8-0 spurt to build a 15-8 advantage.  Norwich maintained its momentum to carry a two-point lead into the second frame.

A Briggs free throw pushed the lead back to three before the Pilgrims caught fire, outscoring Norwich, 18-5, in the second quarter.  A pair of free throws by Gracie Laster (Arlington, Va.) briefly put Norwich back in front, 21-20, with 7:04 left in the half, but New England College answered with 14 straight points to seize control.  A late layup by O'Brien helped cut the deficit to 11, as the Cadets trailed 34-23 at the break.

The third quarter proved to be a defensive grind, with both offenses struggling to find rhythm.  The Cadets held the Pilgrims to just six points in the frame and trimmed the lead to seven on a series of baskets by Kittredge and Laster to begin the fourth.

New England College quickly stretched the lead back to 15 early in the final stanza, but Norwich refused to go away.  A late 13-3 surge, highlighted by six straight points by Kittredge, brought the Cadets back within five, 51-46.  That would be as close as they would come, however, as the Pilgrims regrouped to close out the win and maintain the double-digit margin.

Norwich outscored New England College in points off turnovers (10-4) and points in the paint (24-16), while holding the Pilgrims to 33.3% shooting from the floor and 22.7% from three-point range.

The Cadets will return to Andrews Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14, for a 3:00 p.m. GNAC showdown with reigning conference champion University of Saint Joseph (Conn.).  Norwich then hits the road again for a penultimate regular season contest at perennial powerhouse Emmanuel College on Tuesday, Feb. 17.