Photo Courtesy: Bill DiLillo Photography
BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Southern Vermont College women's basketball team played host to New England Collegiate College rival the Becker College Hawks on Saturday afternoon losing 78-70 in a game where the Hawks led by as much as 20 in the second half. Guard Joa Claircius had a team-high 27 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Senior Courtney Fiske had a game-high 29 points for Becker as she drained nine treys in the win.
The Mountaineers fall to 3-18 overall (2-11 NECC), while the Hawks improve to 5-15 overall (5-6 NECC).
The Hawks started out on a 9-0 run off the tip with Fiske scoring five and junior forward Heidi Miller draining two jumpers. SVC got its offense on playing shot for shot with the Hawks until 2:47 was left in the first and it was 33-30 Becker. The Hawks ended the half on a 9-3 run giving them a 42-33 lead at the break.
In the second Miller drained two free throws and several jumpers, which led to three-pointers from sophomore Kristina Desnoyers and Fiske giving Becker a 20 point cushion with 13:48 to go in regulation. The Mountaineers were not down and out yet as it complied a 17-3 run led by Claircius who made shot after shot for 15 points in that rally.
Unfortunately for Southern Vermont the Hawks brought its clutch shooters in freshman Katelyn Cavanaugh and Fiske as they both hit important triples to keep Becker on top. SVC could only come within five with 41 seconds remaining on a trey from sophomore guard Alyssa Davis.
The Mountaineers 28 turnovers were converted into 29 points by Becker, while the dominating rebounding of SVC, 62 to the Hawks 29, kept them in the game.
Miller finished the game with 23 for Becker including five rebounds and three steals. Senior guard Shannon Tibbetts moved the ball well at the point for the Hawks as she finished with seven assists.
The Mountaineers had a monster double-double from freshman forward Christie Henry who finished with 10 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Forward Kiara Bates finished with 14 rebounds not far behind Henry. Davis and senior forward Rachel Pannell each chipped in 13 for Southern Vermont.
The Mountaineers are back in action Tuesday, February 9th, when it travels to the Elms College Blazers for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.