BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Southern Vermont College women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season by taking down visiting Sage on Tuesday night, 63-54, at the SVC Field House.

The Mountaineers are 1-1 for the first time since the 2004-2005 season. Southern Vermont was led by sophomore Julia Fagan (New Britain, Conn./New Britain High School), who had yet another double-double with 22 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Fagan scored the first two points of the game with 18:25 on the clock, but SVC went on to play three minutes of scoreless ball thereafter.

"I was pleased with the overall effort tonight. However, we came out a little flat and it showed in the score," said SVC head coach Benjamin Kozik, whose team was down 11-2 in the early going. "But I'm happy the young women kept their heads and dealt with the adversity."

A timeout was called by Kozik, and the team seemed to get back into it with freshman Alyssa Davis (West Burke, Vt./Lyndon Institute) draining a three-pointer off an assist from Fagan to snap her team's scoring drought. Davis finished with 15 points and five rebounds for the Mountaineers.

Fellow SVC freshman Kristen Cummings (New Britain, Conn./New Britain High School) then connected on another three-pointer, one of her two treys on the night. She finished with nine points and four rebounds.

Southern Vermont ended the first half leading 31-28, and never looked back. Freshman Joa Claircius (Clermont, FL/East Ridge High School) poured in 11 points and freshman Tasha Smith added four points in the victory.

Rounding out the Mountaineers' offensive was sophomore Tiarra Hall (Washington, DC/Calvin Coolidge High School), who had two points and three rebounds. The Gators were led by Carlin DeMarinis and Elizabeth Donk who each posted 12 points.

SVC is right back in action Thursday, at home against Anna Maria College. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

"We need to come out ready to play against Anna Maria," Kozik said. "We need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot, reduce the turnovers, and make our free throws. If we do that, and we'll be fine."