DANBURY, Conn. - Despite a team-high 16 points from sophomore guard Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.), the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball squad fell to visiting non-conference foe SUNY Polytechnic, 67-55, on Thursday afternoon. The two squads will have a rematch tomorrow at Noon due to a pair of teams being forced to withdraw from the holiday tournament.

Vivian added six rebounds to her stat column, while classmate forward Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) chipped in with 11 points and three boards off the bench for the hosts.

Juniors Molly Burdick (Johnson City, N.Y.) and Lauren Denny (Pulaski, N.Y.) scored 25 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the Wildcats. Denny also tallied a game-high five steals, while classmate Kierra Connor (Blossvale, N.Y) snagged a game-high 10 off the glass.

The visitors erupted out of the gate, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor (67 percent) en route to a 25-8 lead at the end of the opening quarter. Denny led the way with 10 in the stanza. 

It if weren't for the slow start, WestConn could have pulled off the win. They would outscore the Wildcats in each of the ensuing three quarters. Turnovers were also an issue as WestConn coughed the ball up 26 times, while the visitors committed only 17. 

WestConn will look to avenge the loss on Friday afternoon before heading into 2022.