Lady Knights Use Big Second Half to Defeat Lynx
Vellek's 24 leads VTC past Lesley U
CAMBRIDGE, MA - The Knights of Vermont Tech continued their winning ways in this early season defeating the Lynx of Lesley University on the road by the final of 54-38.
The Lynx began the game quickly, scoring the first four points. Senior Captain Kelly Vellek(Burlington, VT), however, then keyed a 15-3 run for the Knights by scoring 12 of her game-high 24 points in the stretch. VTC led 15-7 and seemed to be well on their way to victory.
Lesley would not be so easily deterred. When Forward Paige Wells(So./Orleans, VT) was sent to the bench with her third fould they went on a 12-0 run of their own. Grace Amato took full advantage of the undersized VTC lineup in the following 8 minutes, hitting on 4 of her team-high 13 points to go with her 9 rebounds. Lesley took the lead 19-15.
The Lady Knights then tightened their defense within the final three minues of the half. They forced four turnovers in quick succession, converting two directly to points. By the end of the contest, VTC had forced 29 turnovers, grabbing 14 steals, while only committing 15 turnovers of their own. Rebekka Dimick (Sr./Windsor, VT) conerted one of the turnovers into two by hitting a short jumpers, while Ama Baker(Jr./Fitchburg, MA) took a steal of her own and finished with an easy layup as time expired. Baker finished the game with another double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also had 6 steals and 4 assists. The low scoring half ended 19-19.
As has been a theme this year, the second half belonged entirely to the Knights. The visitors came out strong, with Wells connecting on a layup and Vellek hitting a three for a 5-0 run. Wells had just 4 points on the day, but grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and offered a solid presence in the middle despite her foul trouble.
VTC continued to pull away, and began to assert their dominance when Freshman Serena Reynolds(Alburgh, VT) scored 6 straight points in a two minute stretch about half way through the second period. Reynolds had 8 points, 8 rebounds in the game and her 6 straight stretched the lead to 12.
The Knights were never again challenged, making the lead as large as 18 before settling on the final 16 point margin of victory.
The Knights only shot 50% from the free throw line, but took 33 free throws in comparison to only 9 for the Lynx. Lesley controlled the boards by a margin of 58-48. Ari Dimou had 6 points, 10 rebounds for the Lynx.
Vermont Tech will next travel to New York City. On Monday, November 19th the Knights play Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn at 6pm.
