BENNINGTON, Vt. – A strong Sage Colleges defense held the Southern Vermont College women's basketball team to 44 points Thursday night as the Gators defeated SVC 77-44 on the Mountaineer's home court in non-conference action.

                Sage applied an early press and a blanketing defense in the first half, grabbing ten steals and converting on the offensive end to hold a 37-12 lead at the break.  Megan Bowman (Saranac, N.Y.) had eight of her team-high 13 points in the first, while sophomore Amie Jefferson (Albany, N.Y.) also recorded ten in the opening stanza.

                The Mountaineers battled back in the second with help from freshman captain Amber Flagg  (Windsor, Conn.) who put down 15 of her game-high 19 points in the half.  Her tough dribble-drive sent her to the line, going 15-16 from the free-throw stripe for the game.  She also had a game-high of five assists.

                The Gators continued to be efficient, however, and extended their lead as the time wound down.  Bowman finished with a game-high of five steals.  Jefferson recorded 12 on the night, while freshman Sara Tironi (Cambridge, N.Y.) broke into double digits with 11.

                Southern Vermont held a slight advantage on the boards, grabbing 38 to Sage's 32.  The Gators were 4-13 from beyond the arc.

                SVC (1-4, 1-0 NECC) returns to New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip at home against Newbury College.  The Gators (3-5, 1-1 Skyline Conference) are right back at it Friday night when they host Bard College for a 7 p.m. game.