Women's Basketball Pulls Out Opening Win

Despite shooting just 27% from the field and 3-22 from beyond the 3 point arc, the Vermont Tech Green Knights Women's Basketball team managed to triumph in their season, conference and home opener versus a game Hampshire College. The final tally was 46-36 in favor of the Knights.

Opening game jitters were in full effect for both teams, as the squads struggled from the offensive end of the floor in this hotly contested affair. Vermont Tech and Hampshire were extremely evenly matched, as the Knight's distinct advantage in the turnover battle, taking away 32 compared to giving away only 17, did not translate into enough points to pull away from their opponents.

The Knights led the entire first half, but never by more than 5 points. Hampshire used team play to stay in the game for the first 20 minutes. They had 6 assists on 7 baskets, and spread their scoring evenly amongst 4 players. Vermont Tech had numerous chances, but because of 8-33 shooting from the field and an uncharacteristic 1-15 from behind the arc they could not create any substantial advantage on the scoreboard. Junior Kelly Vellek (Burlington, VT) led all scorers in the half with 7 points on her way to a team high 11 for the game. The first half ended with a 2 point margin, the Knights up 18-16 in an extremely low scoring contest.

Hampshire came out hard in the second half, grabbing the lead within the first 3 minutes, and then extending their advantage to 6 points, 28-22, by the 16 minute mark. A timeout by VTC served to calm and re-focus the squad, who then came out and reclaimed the lead on their home floor. After trading baskets, the Knights went on a 14-1 run over the next 10 minutes that propelled them in front of their opponents by a score of 38-31. A jumper by Freshman Alyssa Cassanelli (Barkhamsted, CT), three steal by Freshman Tara Rivera (Lebanon, NH) and a wild 3 as the shot clock expired by Bekka Dimick (Windsor, VT) keyed the run that eventually led to a victory for the Knights. Freshman Heather Gonier (Williamstown, VT) was the other Knight in double figures along with Vellek, as Cassanelli led the team with 13 rebounds. Monica Soto from Hampshire led all scorers with16 points and 14 rebounds.

Hampshire has a record of 0-1, 0-1, and Vermont Tech is now 1-0, 1-0. The Knights next play on Friday, November 11th at 6pm versus the University of Maine Augusta Moose. The game will be played at a neutral site, taking place at Southern Maine Community College in Portland, Maine.