NORTHFIELD, VT. – An early first half roll helped propel Norwich University gain a 54-47 win over Lasell to close the 2011-12 Great Northeast Athletic Conference regular season campaign.

The Cadets, moving to 11-14 overall and 6-7 in the league, posted 14 of the game's first 21 points en route to a 24-17 halftime edge. NU got out of the gate fast in the second frame, too, with a 13-3 run to go up 37-20 with 9:28 to play.

The visiting Lasers (4-21, 3-10 GNAC) threatened their hosts' lead down the stretch, moving to within five (46-41) with 1:08 to play. However, sophomore guard Tylita Butler (Lexington Park, Md.), topping off a strong afternoon, combined with freshman guard Aliah Curry (Windsor, Mass.) to hit seven-of-nine charity stripe tosses to close the game out.

Butler's eight-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist day helped key the win. Curry tallied 16 points behind a 13-of-18 effort from the free throw line. Junior forward Jessalyn Sweeney (Stanfordville, N.Y.) narrowly missed another double-double tallying eight points and 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Kelsey Lotti (South Yarmouth, Mass.) canned three three-point baskets.

Coach Mark Zacher, his staff and the 2011-12 Cadets honored senior forward Jocelyn Fasulo (Contoocook, N.H.), senior forward Tara Stevenson (Watertown, Conn.) and senior forward Kelsey Knapp (Brandon, Vt.) prior to tip-off. Fasulo contributed eight points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, while Knapp, who earned a start, produced four rebounds.

NOTES – The Maroon and Gold closes the regular season with four wins in its last six games. … Sweeney, behind her 12-rebound game, saw her rebounds per game average move up two-tenths to 7.4 per game. Her average is up seven-tenths over the last four games (6.7-7.4) due to four straight double-figure board contests.