NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's basketball team closed the 2025-26 regular season in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, holding off Elms College, 68-62, on Senior Day in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action inside Andrews Hall.

With the victory, the Cadets secured the fourth seed in next week's GNAC Tournament and will host #5-seeded Lasell University on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 p.m. in Andrews Hall.  Norwich previously defeated the Lasers, 68-55, on Jan. 28 in Northfield.

Gracie Laster (Arlington, Va.) provided the spark off the bench, pouring in 20 points on 8-14 shooting to lead all scorers.  Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.) added 11 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, as Norwich's depth proved decisive down the stretch.

Following a ceremonial opening possession that saw both teams trade layups, including one from Siobhan O'Donnell (Queens, N.Y.), the contest quickly settled into a competitive rhythm.  Elms grabbed a 15-10 edge midway through the first quarter, but momentum shifted late.  A Kittredge layup ignited an 8-0 Norwich surge to close the frame, flipping the scoreboard and giving the Cadets an 18-15 advantage.

The rally carried into the second stanza.  Back-to-back buckets from Laster and Kiley O'Brien (Kingston, Mass.) extended the margin before the Blazers halted the run.  Norwich answered with another 6-0 burst, capped by a fast-break layup from Laster off a Kittredge assist to push the lead into double digits for the first time.  The Cadets maintained control throughout the quarter, though a pair of Elms jumpers in the final 49 seconds trimmed the margin to 34-26 at halftime.

Elms responded out of the locker room, holding Norwich scoreless for nearly four minutes while cutting the deficit to four.  Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) halted the momentum with a clutch three-pointer, but the Blazers continued to apply pressure, slicing the margin to 44-42 with under a minute remaining in the third.  Jade Garceau (Fairfield, Vt.) answered with a tip-in to stretch the lead back to four, only to see Elms bank in a quarter-court heave at the buzzer, sending Norwich into the fourth clinging to a narrow 46-45 edge.

The final period delivered the tension expected of a postseason-clinching contest.  Laster opened the frame with a jumper to create separation, but consecutive Elms layups briefly reclaimed the lead for the visitors.  Laster responded with an old-fashioned three-point play to push Norwich back in front, and the Cadets held firm as the Blazers kept the margin within one midway through the quarter.

Norwich ultimately sealed the result at the foul line.  The Cadets converted 13 free throws over the final 4:20, icing the game and securing the six-point Senior Day victory.

The Norwich bench proved instrumental, outscoring Elms 43-11 behind the efforts of Laster and Kittredge.  The Cadets also held a 15-7 advantage in fast break points, shot an efficient 49.0 percent from the floor, and limited the Blazers to 32.5 percent shooting overall and just 21.4 percent from three-point range.

Prior to tip-off, Norwich honored Mallorie Chalmers (Milton, Vt.), Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.), Siobhan O'Donnell, Kiley O'Brien, and Jessica Zimmerman (Turner, Maine) as part of Senior Day festivities.

The victory secures Norwich's first home conference playoff game since 2022, when the Cadets topped Lasell University, 58-48, in Andrews Hall.  Wednesday's winner will advance to the GNAC Semifinals to face the winner of #1 Emmanuel College and #8 New England College on Friday at the site of the higher seed.