THE BASICS 
Lesley University, 63 at Vermont State University-Johnson, 54

Records: 
Lesley University Lynx (6-9, 2-4 NAC)
Vermont State University-Johnson (VTSU) Badgers (0-16, 0-6 NAC) 

Location: Johnson, Vt.-Carter Gymnasium

Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025

THE LEAD – Behind career-highs from both Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.) with 20 points and Alawnah Dunda (Fort Ann, N.Y.) with 12 points, the Lesley University women's basketball team earned a hard-fought North Atlantic Conference (NAC) win at Vermont State University-Johnson, 63-54. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lesley's offense started quickly after Bella Terry (El Cajon, Calif.) knocked down a three for a 6-2 Lynx lead with 6:43 left in the first. However, VTSU pulled ahead later in the frame with a 6-0 run (8-6) highlighted by a Sasha Khomutetsky three.
• The Lynx offense would respond later in the quarter after a Savannah Gravitt (Richmond Hill, Ga.) free throw and Terry layup gave the squad a 9-8 advantage before the hosts called a timeout. Coming out of the break, both sides matched each other's play the rest of the quarter, and Lesley would go into the second with a 14-12 lead.
• In the second, the Lynx increased their lead early after Gravitt knocked down a three for a 17-12 advantage. Despite holding a five-point lead, VTSU stormed back again and retook the lead (20-19) after Khomutesky hit another three with 7:31 until halftime. Later in the quarter, tied at 29, VTSU pulled ahead by three (32-29) after a Kristie Zator layup and Haley Root free throw with less than two minutes remaining until halftime (1:16). Even with the lead, the Lynx were able to tie things going into halftime after DeHuelbes converted a clutch and-one opportunity. 
• It was a defensive battle throughout most of the third as both sides scored under 10 points each, and VTSU held the slight edge in the quarter, 9-8. With 34 seconds left in the frame, Riann Fortin gave the hosts a three-point edge (41-38) after a layup. However, Terry responded the next possession when she knocked down a jumper and VTSU would hold a one-point lead going into the fourth. 
• Going into the fourth, it was all Lesley. Tied at 49 with 5:10 remaining, the Lynx put things out of reach for good thanks to an 8-0 run that gave them a 57-49 lead with 2:15 left. DeHuelbes spearheaded the Lesley offense with six points, including two threes.
• VTSU would pull within five (59-54) with 1:03 left, but that would be the closest the Badgers got as the Lynx closed out the last 1:10, scoring four unanswered points for a 63-59 NAC triumph.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• DeHuelbes led all scorers with 20 points. She has now scored 10 or more points in four of her last five games. 
• Lesley's other double-figure scorers were Terry, with 18, and Dunda, with 12. Terry also recorded her 11th double-double of the season, grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds.
• Khomutesky led VTSU in scoring with 16 points on the night. 
• Kristie Zator grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds Wednesday night.
• The Lynx held the advantage beyond the arc, going 7-17 (41.2%) from three, whereas the Badgers were 6-17 (35.3%).
• Wednesday's win marked the first win in program history against VTSU. 

UP NEXT

• Lesley continues its NAC road trip when the squad heads to Thomas College on Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 p.m.