WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Christine Daniels notched her first career double-double, scoring a career-high 20 points and ripping down a career-best 17 rebounds, to lead the Norwich women's basketball team to a 68-54 victory over Emerson on Saturday afternoon at Andrews Hall in the GNAC opener for both schools.

Erica Rate added 19 points for the Cadets, who improve to 2-10 (1-0 GNAC). Ally Daniels chipped in six points and 10 rebounds for the NU, while Natalie Marchese contributed seven points and a game-high six assists off the bench. Kathy Andrade scored a team-high 16 points for Emerson (5-7, 0-1 GNAC), while Maude Okrah and Lauren Vassallo each added 10 points apiece for the Lions.

Norwich broke open a close game with a 13-0 run during a six-minute stretch late in the second half to pull away from Emerson. The spurt turned a 53-50 Norwich lead at the 8:17 mark into a 66-50 NU edge with 2:49 to play, and the Cadets cruised from there.

Norwich led 38-27 at halftime, but Emerson chipped away at the lead and eventually pulled to within 53-50, before the Cadets pulled away.

Norwich got off to an 8-4 lead at the 17:22 mark, but Emerson used a 9-6 spurt over the next three minutes to trim NU's lead to 14-13 with 14:24 to play in the opening half. A 9-0 burst by the Cadets during a two-minute span gave them a 23-13 advantage at the 12:25 mark.

Emerson reeled off six straight points to pull to within 23-19 just two minutes later, but Norwich held the Lions at bay over the remainder of the half, building a 37-28 halftime lead.

Daniels led the Cadets in the first half with 12 points and nine rebounds. Rate and Jess Jaggars each chipped in six points apiece in the opening stanza as eight different Norwich players got in the scoring column.

The Norwich defense held Emerson to just 31.9 percent shooting from the field. Norwich shot 38.6 percent from the floor. The Cadets held a commanding edge at the free throw line, where NU made 20-of-23 attempts compared to just 5-of-8 for the Lions.

Norwich returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 15, when the Cadets travel to West Hartford, Conn., to take on St. Joseph's (Conn.). The GNAC game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.