LYNDONVILLE, VT

The UMPI Women's team showed a lot of signs of improvement over the last two games, and Saturday's close loss against a 9-5 Lyndon squad was just the latest of signs of what is to come. UMPI traveled with eight players again, but all of them played big roles throughout the game.

How it Happened:

Lyndon started out the game very hot with a 23 point first quarter. Other days, the Owls may have been unable to make it a game after giving up that many in the first, but Saturday was different with UMPI responding and kept it close early. They fought for 12 points in the first, even though they went 2.5 minutes without a field goal, they found a way to keep it within reach. In the second quarter, the Owls continued to fight with all they had to keep it close to a 10 point game. Lyndon tried pulling away with it but they were denied. The second quarter was tied with each team putting up 16. Going into the locker room there was still a lot of basketball left to decide the game, as it was 39-28 Hornets.

Against Delhi, UMPI trailed by as many as 17, before mounting a comeback. This time Lyndon ensured that wouldn't happen as they used the always-pivotal third quarter to write the story of the day. The Hornets won the quarter 22-10 to take a 23 point lead going into the fourth. UMPI saved their best quarter for last however, as they put up 19 in the final frame, winning the quarter. But that moral victory wasn't enough as the early lead, bolstered by the strong third quarter was all Lyndon would need for a 78-57 victory.

Top Performers:

Lindsay Hamilton had another stellar game, scoring 22 points, which would have been a career high had she not broken that the game before against Delhi, Her second-to-best single game mark of 22 came on 11 for 22 shooting, throughout 26 minutes played. She was also one rebound shy of another double-double with nine. Nevaeh Bello was solid again with 13 points, marking her career high, as she went 5-7 shooting it with 2-2 from three-point range. Bello played only 23 minutes due to some foul trouble but still made it efficient as she had four assists in there as well. Aleyah Matheson was in double digits again with 10 points and a pair of threes. Brianna Osterblom had five points in her college debut.

Next Up:

UMPI will make the little over an hour's drive to Johnson now to take on the VTSU-Johnson Badgers to wrap up the Vermont trip. The Owls will look to capture their second victory there as they have momentum going offensively. The Owls and Badgers will tip-off at 3 p.m.