November 19, 2008
Eagles Fall To Johnson State In Home Opener

Nashua – Casey Rusin (Wilmington, Vt.) led five players in double figures with a game high 17 points with three three pointers, four assists and five rebounds guiding Johnson State College past host Daniel Webster College, 84-64 in a women’s basketball regional matchup Wednesday night.

Jenna Lewis (Middlebury, Vt.) and Staci Cutting (Rochester, Vt.) notched 13 points apiece, while Claudia Martineau (Washington, Vt.) and Ashley Bryce (Cambridge, Vt.) added 12 points each as the Badgers (1-0) won their 2008-09 opener.

Briana DeSeignora (Medfield, Mass.) led the Eagles (1-1) with 12 points while Joyce Chagan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) added 10 and Ali Chojnacki (Erie, Penn.) chipped in with nine. Nicole Conley (Hinesburg, Vt.) notched eight.

After the teams traded baskets in the opening three minutes, the Badgers took control with a quick 10-0 run keyed by treys from Rusin and Cutting while the Eagles struggled, hitting two of their first 12 shots and hit just 28% in the first half.

The Badgers took control and led 23-4 at the 10 minute mark after a Martineau jumper and the Eagles would pull no closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Johnson State finished shooting 49-percent from the field and earned a 48-43 edge on the glass.

The Eagles return to action Monday when they host St. Joseph’s, Conn. at 7:00 p.m.

Johnson State returns to action Friday at Elms as part of the Blazer Invitational, tipping off at 6:00 p.m.