BOSTON, Mass. - The Norwich University women's basketball team carried a slim first-quarter edge into the second frame on Tuesday evening, but a decisive second-quarter surge by Emmanuel College proved to be the turning point in a 70-49 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) setback at the Jean Yawkey Center.

Cassidy Kittredge (Waterford, Vt.) led the Cadets offensively with 13 points, standing as the lone Norwich player in double figures.  Jade Garceau (Fairfield, Vt.) provided a spark off the bench with nine points, while Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) delivered a career-best 10 assists to go with four steals in an all-around effort.

After Emmanuel misfired on its opening possession, Briggs wasted no time putting Norwich on the board, burying a triple to ignite the early tempo.  The Saints responded with back-to-back layups to take their first lead, but Jessica Zimmerman (Turner, Maine) answered off a feed from Kiley O'Brien (Kingston, Mass.) to swing the edge back to the Cadets.

The teams continued to trade baskets, with Emmanuel maintaining a narrow cushion until Norwich knotted the contest twice down the stretch.  A layup from Gracie Laster (Arlington, Mass.) briefly pushed the Cadets ahead, 15-14, with 39 seconds remaining, and after a swift Saints response, Kittredge beat the buzzer with a jumper to send Norwich into the second quarter holding a one-point advantage.

Momentum shifted sharply in the second stanza.  Emmanuel held Norwich without a field goal and erupted for a 22-2 quarter to seize control.  A free throw by Mallorie Chalmers (Milton, Vt.) kept the deficit at four with 6:44 remaining, but a 16-0 Saints run over the next five minutes stretched the margin to 38-18.  Briggs halted the rally with a foul-line make in the final minute, though Norwich entered halftime trailing, 38-19.

The Cadets continued to compete in the third, trimming the deficit with a 6-0 run fueled by layups from Kittredge and O'Brien to pull within 18 just four minutes into the frame.  Emmanuel, however, continued to apply pressure defensively and capitalize on turnovers, building a 27-point advantage late in the quarter before carrying a 63-38 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Norwich closed the game on a positive note, outscoring the Saints 11-7 in the fourth quarter, but the earlier deficit proved too much to overcome as Emmanuel secured the 21-point victory.

The Cadets finished the evening shooting 40.8 percent from the floor while limiting the Saints to 27.3 percent from three-point range.

Norwich now turns its attention to Saturday's regular-season finale, hosting Elms College for Senior Day inside Andrews Hall on Feb. 21.  A win would secure the fourth seed and a home quarterfinal game in next week's GNAC Tournament.  Prior to tip-off, Norwich will honor Mallorie Chalmers, Eleonore Collins (Waterville, N.Y.), Kiley O'Brien, Siobhan O'Donnell (Queens, N.Y.), and Jessica Zimmerman as part of Senior Day festivities.