Ama Baker scores 1,00th point in loss vs. SUNY Canton

Randolph Center- Ama Baker (Fitchburg, MA) engraved her name in Vermont Tech Women's basketball history Wednesday, but it was SUNY Canton that came away with the win 71-66. Baker came in to last night's game with needing 16 points s to scoring 1,000 career points and she did just that in the second half of the game.

The Kangaroos of SUNY Canton (6-15) came out strong scoring nine of the first 11 points of the contest, but Kaitlin Lyford (Barre, VT) hit her first of five 3's of the game to try and start a Vermont Tech run. But, the Roos retaliated on Lyford's three by going on a 9-0 run and giving SUNY Canton the lead 35-25 at the half.

The Roos came out strong in the second half as Joelle Percey scored the first 8 points for the Roos opening their largest lead of the game at 11. Vermont Tech (10-14) started to chip away at the Roos lead as Paige Wells knocked down a pair of free throws to pull the knights within 5.  

Baker's 1,000th and 1,001^st point came at a crucial time for the Green Knights as her lay-up pulled the Knights with in three with 8:37 left to play in the game. After the short awards presentation the Roos went 0-3 from the floor, Baker got the defensive rebound and with the quick transition was able to find Lyford for the quick 2 points to pull the score within one at 55-54 with 7:30 to play. Karyss Terrance scored the next five straight points giving the Roos a small but important cushion.  

The Green Knights continued to fight their way back into the game and with 3:10 Paige Wells (Orleans, VT) and Baker went on an 8 point run with each contributing 4 points to pull within 2 make it 66-64. Unfortunately, this was not enough as SUNY Canton Brianna Sayer scored the next five points to talk the 71-66 win.

Baker lead the Green Knights with a game-high 23 points and 10 assists, Wells pulled down 17 rebounds to go with her 16 points on the night. Lyford had another career high scoring 19 points.

For SUNY Canton Percy finished with a team-high 20 points, while Sayer had 17 points and 5 rebounds and Terrance finished with a double-double 13 points 11 rebound.  

Vermont Tech Women's basketball will end their season on the road this weekend, Saturday Feb 15^th @ Southern Maine CC 1pm, and Sunday Feb 16^th @ SUNY Canton 3pm.  

Senior, Ama Baker (Fitchburg, MA) scored a game-high 23 points vs. SUNY Canton Wednesday night becoming the 3^rd Vermont Tech Women's basketball player to reach 1,000 career points. Baker reaches this accomplishment not only on senior night, but she did this in an impressive two and half years.

Last season Baker was named to the YSCC All-Conference team and made the USCAA All-American Second Team. Baker will join only two other Women' basketball players to reach 1,000 fellow teammate Kelly Vellek 2013 graduate, and 2011 graduate Eliza Wakefield.  

This season Baker is averaging 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.7 assist per game, and just Monday 2/8 Baker was named USCAA Division II Player of the Week.