November 15, 2009
Balanced Attack Leads Eagles Past Badgers in Opener, 80-67

Johnson, Vt – In the season-opening contest for both teams, visiting Daniel Webster College outscored host Johnson State College 48-36 in the second half to pull away for an 80-67 win in the newly renovated Carter Gymnasium. A dominate effort on the glass help key the Eagles win as they held a decisive 47-24 advantage.

Sophomore Vanessa Bosques (North Windham, Conn.) led DWC (1-0) with 23 points and six boards, going nearly perfect (10-12) from the field, while Joyce Chagan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) added 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

Junior Tonisha Tate (Lynn, Mass.) recorded a double-double in her Eagle debut with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kristen Murphy (Woodstock, Vt.) was also in double-figures with 10 points and added six boards.

The win was a measure of revenge of sorts for the Eagles, who saw the Badgers post a 20-point win in last season's second game at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.

The first half was a back and forth affair with both teams playing sound defensively. A Tate lay in with 8:35 remaining in the first half would give DWC their largest lead of the first 20 minutes at 20-14. But Johnson would go on a 8-0 spurt to take the lead 22-20 capped by a Maria Gleason (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) lay in.

Bosques would can a jumper with :14 remaining to give the Eagles a 32-31 halftime lead and the visitors would not trail again.

The Eagles opened the second half on a 10-0 completed by a Chagan layup. Chagan would have a huge half scoring 15 of her 18 points while going 5-6 from the field.

Claudia Martineau (Washington, Vt.) would drain a 15-foot jump shot with 7:33 left to play to cut the Daniel Webster lead to 12 but that would be as close as the Badgers would get the rest of the way and the visitors shot a blistering 69% percent over the final 20 minutes.

Gleason would pace Johnson State in her first collegiate game with 19 points while dishing out five assists and collecting four steals. Martineau scored 15 points and Christine Tatro (Eden, Vt.) would net 12 points and grab seven rebounds.

Johnson will play at the Blazer Invitational next weekend opening against the host Elms College on Friday night at 6 pm. Daniel Webster will return to Nashua for their first home contest against Anna Maria College on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.