WBK: NVU-Lyndon nips Lasell in semester finale; Montgomery scores career-high 22 for Lasers

LYNDONVILLE, Vt. – Junior Shaylan Mosher (Newark, Vt.) made a traditional three-point play with 25 seconds remaining and sophomore Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, N.H.) added a pair of insurance free throws with 15 seconds to play Saturday afternoon as Northern Vermont University-Lyndon held on for a 66-61 victory over Lasell University in a non-conference women's basketball game at Stannard Gymnasium.

Senior Amanda Ortiz (Newton, Mass.) hit back-to-back shots for Lasell with 1:45 and 1:07 to play to cut the Lyndon margin to 61-59, but Mosher's three-point play pushed the Hornet lead back up to five points. Junior Precious Montgomery (Bridgeport, Conn.) made a pair of free throws for Lasell with 24 seconds on the clock but Crompton answered with free throws of her own nine seconds later to seal the victory.

Montgomery led all scorers with a career-high 22 points (on 9-of-16 shooting) and a team-high eight rebounds for Lasell. Ortiz finished with 18 points and six boards, and junior Peyton Young (Douglas, Mass.) chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds.

NVU-Lyndon put four of its starters in double figures in scoring. Senior Alissa Mitchell (Milton, N.H.) led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, while classmate Alisha Celley (Cabot, Vt.) added 12 points and nine boards, Crompton was good for 11 points and Mosher finished with 10 points.

Lasell had a strong first quarter and led 22-13 after one. The hosts came alive in the second quarter, outscoring the Lasers 27-10 in the frame to head to the locker room with a 40-32 advantage. The pendulum swung back in favor of the visitors in the third quarter as Lasers scored the first 12 points to regain the lead, 44-40, but Lyndon battled back and took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, 47-46.

After trading baskets and the lead early in the fourth, Lyndon pulled ahead by seven points, 59-52, midway through the frame. Lasell came back to within one point with a minute to go, but the Hornets pulled out the win.

After a break for final exams and the holidays, Lasell is back on the court on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at the University of Maine Farmington at 1 p.m. Lyndon will also play again on January 4, hosting the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at 2 p.m.

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