LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Lesley University junior Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) dropped in 20 points to go with 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Lyndon State used a late 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to spoil the season-opener for the Lynx 68-57.
Trailing by one with just over six minutes to play, Hornets junior Mikayla Hodge (Newbury, Vt.) sparked the run with a jumper followed by one of her two triples on the night to reclaim a 59-55 edge. After a layup from sophomore Alexis Britch (Essex Junction, Vt.), Hodge would connect from deep again and hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to hang on for the season-opening win.
Hodge finished with a double-double with game-highs of 30 points and 13 rebounds. Faith Richard (Acushnet, Mass.) added 12 points while Britch pitched in 10 points and 4 blocks.
Pereira led the Lynx with her 20 points and 11 rebounds while freshman Dakota Jones (Torrance, Calif.) also added a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in her collegiate debut. Classmate Linda Wallentine (Monroe Township, N.J.) also added 11 points while fellow first year Kylie Lounder (Belchertown, Mass.) finished with nine points and eight boards.
The Lynx opened the game on a 4-0 run on the back of Jones until Hodge knocked in a pair of free throws. Late in the opening quarter with the score knotted at 18-18, Pereira would connect with an old-fashioned three-point play to give the visitors a 21-18 lead to carry into the second.
The Hornets came out in the second quarter hot from the field and used an 11-2 run over the first four minutes of play to claim a 29-23 edge. Lyndon State would extend their lead by as many as twelve until Pereira and Jones combined for a 6-0 run to dwindle the Hornets lead down to 39-33 heading into halftime.
The Hornets held onto the lead until Pereira drained a three, pushing the Lynx ahead by one with 2:09 left in the third quarter. After a pair of free throws from Hodge and a three-pointer from Richard, the Lynx answered with a jump shot by sophomore Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) to knot the game 50-50 at the end of the third.
The first two minutes of the final quarter were held at a stand-still until Mariah Ramos (Lebanon, N.H.) tossed in a layup for the Hornets. There were four lead changes until the Hornets mounted their run to hand on for the victory.
Lesley will open their home slate on Thursday when they host Eastern Nazarene College in a non-conference matchup at 8:00p at the Nicholas Athletics Center while Lyndon State will travel to Lasell College on Saturday at 1:00p.
Portions of this release courtesy Lyndon State Athletics