Women's Basketball announces America East conference dates, full schedule

Black Bears open conference play by hosting Vermont in America East Championship game rematch

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team and the America East announced its 2026-27 conference schedule on Tuesday afternoon.

The conference slate, in addition to the previously announced non-conference dates, gives

Terriers Soar Past Owls, 85-48

Recap, photo courtesy of Thomas College

WATERVILLE, Maine – The Thomas College women's basketball team earned an 85-48 victory over the University of Maine at Presque Isle in a non-conference contest on Wednesday night at Larry Mahaney Gymnasium.

In the win, the Terriers improve to 3-5 overall on the year while the Owls still search for their first win at 0-6.

The Terriers cruised out to a big lead in the first quarter as they went 6-for-8 from behind the arch.  Senior Sammie Griffin (Union, Maine), sophomore Karli Stubbs (Auburn, Maine), and freshman Nikki Bradstreet (Topsham, Maine) each netted a pair of threes to lead the run.  The Owls offense struggled as they committed seven turnovers throughout the quarter.

Thomas continued to pull away through the second frame behind six points from Amira Jones (Chicopee, Mass.) and five points from Addie Brinkman (Farmington, Maine).  Rhylee Wright netted six points for the Owls in the half along with five more from Brianna Losee as they trailed the Terriers 46-20 at the break.

Throughout the second half, the Terriers extended their advantage by outscoring the Owls 39-28.  The Owls finished the contest 18-for-58 from the field along with 22 turnovers.  Thomas went 30-for-67 while knocking down 12 three-pointers.

Griffin led with a game-high 14 points along with four assists, and three steals.  Jordan Turner (Casco, Maine) followed with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists while Stubbs and Jones each finished in double-figures with 11 and ten points each.

Wright and Losee each netted 12 points in the effort for the Owls while Teagan Lawyerson ended with eight points and three rebounds.

The Terriers will hit the road on Saturday, December 9 as they take on conference opponent UMaine-Farmington in a 1:00 p.m. matchup.

Nor'easters outlast Gulls, 57-48, to go 7-1

Recap, photo courtesy of UNE

BEVERLY, Mass. -- The University of New England closed the final 4:09 with a 10-1 run to secure a 57-48 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory over Endicott College on Tuesday night (Dec. 5) at MacDonald Gymnasium.

Winners of four in-a-row, the Nor'easters (7-1) now stand alone atop the league standings at 3-0.

After four lead-changes early in the 4th quarter, Endicott's Gabriella Coppola tied the game for a seventh time (47-47) with a three-pointer at the 4:24 mark. But that was the last field goal the hosts could manage against the UNE defense. The Gulls came up empty on their last eight tries, and could only connect with 4-of-16 accuracy during the ultimate session.

Meanwhile, the Nor'easters went 7-for-9 shooting the ball over the same span and accounted for more than 1/3 of their offensive production (21 points), which included six scoring possessions in seven trips at the finish.

Sam MacDonald led the UNE effort with 14 points. Ashley Coneys had eight down the stretch, and registered 12 points with seven rebounds in the contest. Olivia Shaw posted a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 10 boards, helping the visitors record a 47-30 advantage in the rebounding department. Kristie McNall tossed in eight points -- all in the 3rd frame.

For Endicott (4-2, 2-1 CCC), Coppola paced all scorers with 19 points and six assists. Emily Pratt notched each of her 12 points following halftime, and Sam Charette added seven points with six rebounds.

Like the finish, the start was equally commanding for the Nor'easters. UNE constructed an 8-0 cushion while holding the Gulls scoreless until the 2:09 mark of the 1st, through eight missed shots, two empty free throws, and six turnovers. However, the lead was sliced to 11-7 by the conclusion of the opening stanza, once Coppola banked-in a 60-foot heave at the buzzer.

Things got closer in the 2nd (UNE 18-17 at halftime), and, sparked by six from Coppola, Endicott grabbed its largest edge (25-20) in the initial stages of the 3rd quarter. The Nor'easters needed a last-second hoop from MacDonald to level the match at 36-all heading into the deciding period.

UNE will look to take its positive momentum into Saturday's date at No.1 Tufts University.

Southern Maine Pushes Back Salem State 66-52

Senior Emily Nicholson scored eight unanswered points to lead a fourth-quarter rally for USM.

Eells, Nicholson Combine For 22 Fourth Quarter Points: Curley (17), Eells (15), Srolovitz (15) and Nicholson (14) All Score In Double Figures

SALEM, Mass. – Senior Emily Nicholson scored all 12 of her points in the second half, including 10 points in a pivotal fourth quarter to help the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 66-52 win over the Salem State University Vikings Tuesday night in a non-conference women's basketball game at Salem State.

With four players reaching double-figures, Southern Maine secured its second straight win to improve to 2-6 overall. Salem State is now 1-6.

Nicholson was 6-for-12 from the field, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Freshman Kristen Curley (Gorham, Maine) led all scorers with 17 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and an assist.  Junior Alexa Srolovitz (Montreal, Quebec/New Hampton School) and sophomore Chantel Eells (Turner, Maine/Leavitt) each scored 15 points. Srolovitz had five assists and four steals for the Huskies, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.  Eells added eight rebounds and a pair of assists to help USM to a 47-40 advantage on the boards.

Salem State's Norma Waggett had 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots to pace the Vikings.  Kia Fernandes and Jes Brown each scored nine points.  Fernandes added eight boards, two assists and a blocked shot.

Led by 10 points from Curley and nine from Srolovitz, USM raced out to a 28-15 lead at the half.  Facing a double-digit deficit heading to the third, the Vikings exploded offensively in the third quarter to outscore the Huskies by 15 points, 25-10, to assume a slim 40-38 lead heading into the fourth.  Salem State shot a blistering 71.4 percent (10-for-14) from the field in the third led by Waggett's nine points on 4-for-5 shooting.  Conversely, USM was ice cold making just 4-of-17 attempts for a 23.5 percent mark in the third.

Roles reversed in the fourth, however, as USM secured the win in the final quarter outscoring the Vikings 28-11.  Trailing by a bucket, the Huskies' Nicholson put her team on her back scoring the first eight points of the fourth on back-to-back three-pointers and a runner in the paint to put USM ahead 46-40 with 8:51 to play.  A three from Brown cut the Huskies' lead to 46-43 on the Vikings' next possession, but this time Nicholson fed Eells for a wide open layup, and then canned a jumper for a 50-43 lead with 7:50 to go.

The Vikings made it a two-possession game, 50-45, with just over six minutes on the clock, but Nicholson found an open Eells again for a layup to make it 52-45, before Eells connected on another two of her 12 fourth quarter points for a nine-point 54-45 advantage with 3:58 to play. From there, Eells and Srolovitz each scored six points down the stretch to help USM to the 66-52 final.

Southern Maine remains on the road for its next contest and travels to Keene State for a Little East Conference game on Saturday (1:00 pm).

Nor'easters surge after halftime to 52-43 victory over Roger Williams

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England out-scored Roger Williams University by a total of 15 in the 3rd and 4th quarters, rallying for a 52-43 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball win on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 2) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

It was a third straight triumph for the Nor'easters (6-1, 2-0 CCC), who trailed by as many as 10 in the 2nd period (18-8) before closing the margin to 20-14 at the midway break. Defense got the better of both offenses during the initial 20 minutes, as the teams combined to shoot just 20.6 percent from the field.

After trading baskets on the opening possessions of the 3rd, UNE shut out the Hawks (5-2, 1-1 CCC) for the remainder of the frame and to gain a 25-22 edge. It wasn't until 7:58 left in the final stanza (span of 11:33) that Roger Williams managed to score again, then trimming the deficit to 30-25. That was as close as the visitors would get down the stretch.

Leading the way for the hosts was Elyssa Nicholas with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench; she hit three from long range and tallied 11 points in the 4th. Sam MacDonald ended with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Kristie McNall and Ashley Coneys accounted for 17 points (9 and 8) and 15 boards (8 and 7). UNE's top scorer on the season, Olivia Shaw, made just 1-for-12 from the floor in the contest, but pulled down a team-best 12 rebounds and had game-highs of five assists and four steals.

For the Hawks, Teagan Dunn posted match-highs of 14 points and 14 caroms. Anna Walther registered nine points along with eight rebounds, and Gabby Jerahian added eight points. Mariah Nicholas, RWU's primary offensive option coming in (19.3 ppg), struggled between the UNE defensive and foul trouble and went scoreless.

The Nor'easters, who are off to their best start in four years, hit the road on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Endicott College.

Hornets Slip Past UMF in Overtime

Photo, recap courtesy of UMF

Farmington, Maine- UMaine-Farmington drops to Lyndon State on Saturday by a score of 80-74 in overtime in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action.

IN THE BOX

• Morgan Crocker led all scorers with 32 points on 11-23 shooting 11-23 with 10 free throws, five rebounds, and two steals.
• McKenna Brodeur added 18 points with 10 free throws and 4-12 from the floor. McKenna notched a double-double with 10 rebounds while Paige Carter added nine rebounds.
• Sara Lamb had two three points and two free throws to finish the night with 10 points.
• Mikayla Hodge finished with 23 points for the Hornets on 9-18 shooting and 5-6 from three-point land.  Hodge added a double-double with 13 rebounds.
• Alissa Mitchell added 18 points while Gabrielle Foy notched 11 points.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Beavers shot 32.9% from the floor (23-70), 18.2% from behind the arc and 78.8% at the free throw line. UMF added 43 rebounds, eight assists, nine steals and one block.
• The Hornets shot 45.7% with 32 made shots on 70 attempts, 40% from behind the arc and 54.5 percent at the charity strike. The Hornets added 41 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 steals and 11 blocks.

UP NEXT
The Beavers will be on the road on Wednesday as they travel to play Bowdoin. Tip-off set for 7:00 pm.

Felix Scores 1,000th Career Point as Eagles Fend Off Mariners

Recap, photo courtesy of Maine Maritime Academy

BANGOR, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball fell to Husson University 58-50 on Saturday afternoon in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action inside of Newman Gymnasium.

Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.) tallied her 1,000^th career point, while tallying a double-double of 13 rebounds and 10 points. Felix ties Alyssa Burns as the quickest Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball player to reach this milestone, doing so in just 58 games. Felix becomes the eighth player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

With the loss the Mariners fall to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NAC, while the Eagles improve to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in the conference. The Mariners return to action on Tuesday when they take on the University of Maine in an exhibition contest at 5:00 pm.

The two teams were deadlocked at 13-13 following the first quarter, and the second quarter proved to be just as competitive with the two teams exchanging the lead back-and-forth until the Eagles took a narrow 29-27 advantage into halftime.

Megan McLean (Eliot, Maine) led the Mariners with 12 points in the first half, while Kenzie Worcester led the Eagles with nine points.

Worcester hit a layup to open up the third quarter, but Felix made a pair from the line and Melinda Ogden (Searsport, Maine) splashed a three to give the Mariners a 32-31 lead. Ogden hit another three with 4:35 to go in the quarter to give the Mariners to a 40-35 lead and Mikayla Charters (Newport, Maine) added a point from the line to make it 41-35 at 3:13. The Eagles scored four-unanswered points to close out the quarter and cut Maine Maritime's lead to 43-42.

Amanda Holewiak (Somerset, Mass.) and Tess Clark (Spring, Texas) made baskets for the Mariners to open up the fourth quarter, giving the Mariners a 47-42 advantage but the Eagles scored five-straight to tie the game with 6:31 remaining. Felix made a layup with 4:44 to go but the Eagles scored seven-straight to take a 54-49 lead and never looked back.

The Eagles shot 35.8 percent from the floor while the Mariners shot 23.2 percent, but the Mariners held a 54-31 edge in rebounds.

Beavers Claim Victory over Johnson State

Recap, photo is courtesy of UMF

Farmington, Maine – UMaine-Farmington women's basketball wins their first conference game of the year at home with a 63-48 victory over Johnson State.

IN THE BOX

• Morgan Crocker led all scorers with 26 points on 10-24 shooting, 6-6 at the free throw line. Crocker added five rebounds and two assists in the win.
• Jenessa Talarico added 11 points with all of them being three-pointers. Talarico also went 2-4 at the free throw line.
• McKenna Brodeur finished with nine points and nine rebounds with two steals and two assists.
• Jocelyn Pellerin led the Badgers in scoring with 13 on 5-13 shooting and 2-5 from three-point land to go along with three rebounds.
• Katelin Collins added 10 points after shooting 50% from the floor (4-8) with two threes.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Beavers finished the night with a shooting percentage of 33.3% (24-72), 4-21 from behind the arc and 11-21 at the free throw line. UMF added 61 rebounds, 13 assists, nine steals and four blocks.
• The Badgers shot 27.9% from the floor (17-61), 6-22 from deep and 40% at the free throw line. The Badgers notched a total of 53 rebounds, six assists, and seven steals.

UP NEXT
The Beavers will host Lyndon St. today at 1:00 pm.

Bates's Davenport joins 1,000-point club as women's basketball wins home opener

Nina Davenport scored her 1,000th career point as the Bates women's basketball team defeated UMaine-Augusta 67-58 in its home opener on Dec. 1, 2017. (Theophil Syslo/Bates College)

LEWISTON, Maine -- Senior forward Nina Davenport scored her 1,000th career point en route to a game-high 25 points, leading the Bates women's basketball team to a 67-58 victory over the University of Maine at Augusta in the Bobcats' home opener Friday night at Alumni Gym.

Bates (2-4) won despite shooting 30.5 percent from the field in the game, while UMA (5-2) knocked down 38.8% of its shots. Davenport (Freeport, Maine) shot 10-of-32 and 3-of-14 from beyond the arc, both career-high shot totals. The Bobcats had a big advantage in turnovers, committing eight to the visiting Moose's 25, leading to a 28-7 difference in points off turnovers.

Davenport also recorded six rebounds and a game- and career-high six steals in the game. Carly

Thomas College Women's Basketball Stung by Hornets, 75-61

Recap, photo is courtesy of Thomas College

WATERVILLE, Maine – The Thomas College women's basketball team was handed a 75-61 loss to Lyndon State College in North Atlantic Conference action on Friday night at Larry Mahaney Gymnasium.

In the loss, the Terriers now sit at 1-5 (0-2 NAC) on the year while the Hornets improve to 3-2 and remain unbeaten in league play.

The Hornets offense stormed out to an early 13-3 run, allowing them a comfortable lead throughout the first frame.  Thomas looked to keep pace on shots from behind the arch by Sammie Griffin (Union, Maine) and Karli Stubbs (Auburn, Maine).  Lyndon responded with a couple threes as Gabrielle Foy knocked down a pair of her own.  Foy, Mikayla Hodge, and Alisha Celley combined for 9-for-11 shooting and 21 points in the first quarter to give the Hornets a 24-13 advantage.

Lyndon added to their lead in the second quarter to give them a 34-27 lead at the break.  Both teams struggled from the floor as the Terriers finished the frame 4-for-14 from the field while the Hornets dropped down to 5-fo-21 after a hot start to begin the game.

The Hornets continued to extend their lead in the third quarter as they got to the free throw line and finished with a perfect 9-for-9.  Offensively, the Terriers improved to 7-for-16 from the floor led by senior Jordan Turner (Casco, Maine) and junior Molly Carroll (Southwest Harbor, Maine) who combined for 14 points.

Shooting struggled continued for both sides in the final ten minutes as the Terriers clawed their way back within seven points.  The Hornets capitalized on their late free throws to end the game at 75-61.

The Hornets were led by a big double-double from Hodge with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists. Foy followed with 18 points and four assists while Celley added ten points on 4-of-5 shooting.

Carroll and Turner each contributed with 11 points and six rebounds while Amira Jones (Chicopee, Mass.) neared a double-double with ten points and nine boards.

The Terriers have a quick turnaround as they host Johnson State on Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m.

Strong start lifts Maine over Bryant, 77-52

Recap, photo courtesy of UMaine

Koizar nets 20, moves into 8th all-time on Maine scoring list

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (6-5) netted its highest first quarter total of the season (28) before taking a 45-25 lead at the half and cruising to a 77-52 victory at Bryant on Saturday afternoon. Maine has now put together three-straight wins.

Sigi Koizar led all scorers with 20 points on a historic day for the senior. Koizar, who tallied the 1,400th point of her career, surpassed Lauree Gott on Maine's all-time scoring list to move her into eighth all-time. The senior guard also moved into a tie with former teammate Sophie Weckstrom for fifth all-time in 3-point makes at Maine, netting the 150th field goal from downtown of her career.

Koizar was joined in double-digits by Tanesha Sutton (12) and Blanca Millan (11). Sutton, who matched a career-high with 12 points, padded the stat sheet with six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Millan went 3-for-4 from 3-point range and added three steals.

Maine knocked down 6-of-7 attempts from 3-point range in the first quarter and finished the game with a season-high 12 makes from beyond the arc. Overall, Maine went 31-for-61 from the floor (50.8%). Defensively, the Black Bears forced 24 turnovers and outscored Bryant 31-6 in points off turnovers.

Trailing by four midway through the first quarter, Maine went on an extended 18-2 run, knocking down four 3-pointers during the sprint, to take a 28-16 lead into the second period. Half of Maine's season-high 28 first quarter points came directly off Bryant turnovers.

The lead expanded to 14 before Bryant chipped away, coming back within 10.

However, the Black Bears again went on an extended run, distancing itself from the Bulldogs. Maine reeled off 13 unanswered points to take a 45-22 lead. Four different Black Bears scored during the run which saw Maine knock down three more shots from beyond the arc.

At the half, Maine led 45-25, outscoring Bryant 25-0 in points off turnovers.

Bryant continued to plug away in the third which saw it outscore Maine 18-11 in the period, closing the gap down to 13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs continued their charge into the final period, cutting the lead down to 10 on a triple from Stephanie Lesko.

Maine regrouped and began executing its offense again as a layup from Koizar began another 13-0 sprint. Sutton's offensive rebound put back lifted Maine's lead up to 24, 72-48.

Bryant stopped the run with a pair of free throws from Sydney Holloway before a triple from Isabel Hernandez Pepe and a jumper from Madddy McVicar, her first collegiate hoop, gave Maine its largest lead of the game (27), 77-50.

Maine continued to cruise, locking up its third-straight win, 77-52.

The Black Bears are back in action on Monday, Dec. 19 when they open the Miami Tournament with a contest against East Tennessee State at 3 p.m.

-UMaine-

Maine Maritime's Felix Tabbed ECAC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year

Maine Maritime freshman forward Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.) has been selected the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year. Felix garners ECAC Rookie of the Year honors after claiming the same award in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and by the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (Co-Rookie of the Year).

To view the full ECAC release, please click HERE.

The forward led the NAC is scoring as she averaged 17.8 points per game to go along with 6.9 rebounds per game and finished the 2015-16 season shooting 51.4 percent from the floor. In conference play alone, Felix had a tremendous impact on the Mariners and the league this past season. The rookie claimed the top ranking in NAC action in points with 17 per game, while she shot 49.3 percent (113-of-229) from the floor, which also ranked her No. 1 in field goals made. The forward also finished fourth in free-throw percentage (79.2%), fifth in offensive rebounds per game (2.9), and 11th in rebounds per game (6.7). Felix was a seven-time NAC Rookie of the Week, five-time ECAC Rookie of the Week, three-time NAC Player of the Week, and a two-time NEWBA Rookie of the Week selection.

Three players, Ewing noted with All-Maine honors

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Three players from the University of New England, along with head coach Anthony Ewing, have been recognized in the All-State honors as the 2015-16 Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) season awards were announced on Wednesday (Mar. 9).

Junior center Alicia Brown earned a spot on the 1st Team All-Maine, while senior guards Meghan Gribbin and Alanna Vose landed 2nd Team All-Maine accolades. For the second time in his career, Ewing was voted Coach of the Year by his peers from Maine's 11 Division III women's basketball programs.

Brown led the Nor'easters on the season with 14.8 points/game and 49.7 percent field goal shooting, to go with 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Vose was next on the team with 11.6 points, while adding 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 58 three-pointers. Gribbin, a three-time selection to the association's second unit, contributed 8.1 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and a 3.39 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Ewing guided UNE to a 25-4 mark in 2015-16, with an 18-0 ledger in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action. The Nor'easters won their fourth straight league title to head to a fifth consecutive NCAA tournament, and spend a majority of the year in the national rankings.


For the complete release of the MWBCA awards and all-state teams, click HERE.

Bowdoin Women's Basketball Returns To Sweet Sixteen With Tournament Win Over NYU

Shannon Brady scored a game-high 18 points in the win over NYU

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" for the 13th time in school history with a 62-48 win over NYU in the Second Round of the Division III Tournament on Saturday evening at Morrell Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears (22-6) advance to play Rochester in the Third Round of the tournament next Friday evening at a Sectional site to be determined on Sunday. NYU finishes its season with a record of 19-8.

Game Highlights

• NYU jumped out to an 8-2 lead thanks to consecutive three-pointers from Kaitlyn Read and Amy Harioka
• Bowdoin replied with a 9-0 run, capped by an Emily Campbell lay-up, to take an 11-8 advantage late in the opening period
• Maya Wasowicz's layup late in the frame cut Bowdoin's lead to 11-10 after one quarter of play
• Bowdoin scored the first eight points of the second frame as a Rachel Norton and-one and Lauren Petit three-pointer quickly pushed the lead to nine points
• A Harioka three-pointer later in the quarter cut the Bowdoin lead to five points, 26-21, but five straight points from Abby Kelly, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer from 25 feet before halftime made it 31-21 Polar Bears at the break
• NYU cut the Bowdoin lead to seven points on two occasions early in the third quarter, but Bowdoin replied each time, pushing the lead to as many as a dozen points
• Bowdoin carried a ten-point lead into the fourth quarter and kept NYU at bay for the remainder of the contest, increasing their advantage to as many as 15
• The Violets closed to within seven points on one occasion, following a pair of Read freebies with 6:12 to go, but Bowdoin answered with a Kate Kerrigan three-pointer and the lead remained in double-figures for the remainder of the contest

By The Numbers

• Bowdoin's defense dominated, holding NYU to a season-low 48 points and limited the Violets to 28.6% shooting from the field
• Brady finished with a game-high 18 points and two blocks for the Polar Bears
• Kelly ended with 11 points while Ally Silfen scored 10 to spark a 26-point effort by the Bowdoin bench
• NYU was paced by 16 points and nine rebounds from Read
• Bowdoin connected on 39% of their shots in the victory

Up Next

• NCAA Sectional sites will be announced on Sunday

UMaine Women's Basketball Advances to AE Semifinal with 58-47 Win over UNH

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Sigi Koizar led the way with 23 points as the University of Maine women's basketball team defeated New Hampshire by a score of 58-47 in America East quarterfinal action.
Maine advances to the semifinals where it will take on the winner of Stony Brook and Hartford on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Liz Wood tallied the 23rd double-double of her career with 13 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four clutch steals. Koizar's point total moved her past both Bracey Barker and Heather Briggs and into 13th all-time on UMaine's scoring list. Koizar hit 9-of-11 free throw attempts to lead the Black Bears, who finished 17-for-24 from the charity stripe.

Mikaela Gustafsson (9 pts/6 rebs) and Chantel Charles (7 pts/4 asts/3 stls) also contributed key minutes to Maine's success.

Maine's focus on the glass made the difference as it outrebounded the Wildcats 37-22, including pulling down 15 on the offensive end. Inside, the Black Bears held a 22-12 advantage on points in the paint.

Both teams struggled from the floor with the Black Bears checking in at 38.0 percent, hitting just 3-of-15 from long range.

On the defensive end, Maine held New Hampshire in check making it the 16th time this season it has held an opponent under 50 points. The Wildcats also struggled from long distance with a dismal 16.7 percent mark (2-for-12).

Neither team was able to secure separation early until a 5-0 run, keyed with a bucket and free throw make and-one from Koizar, put Maine up six midway through the first quarter.

New Hampshire was able to trim the lead to three early in the second. However, Maine responded with another run, ending with a triple from Wood. The senior's 3-pointer gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the half, 29-20.

A pair of free throws with a second left on the clock from Wood sent Maine into the break with a 33-27 lead.

The third quarter was a struggle on both ends as New Hampshire outscored Maine 9-6 over the 10-minute period. The Wildcats closed the third with a 5-0 run, sending the game into the fourth with Maine leading 39-36.

It wasn't until late in the fourth, but the Black Bears were able to finally pull away late. With a slim three-point lead and 4:43 on the clock, another clutch and-one from Koizar put Maine up by six.
New Hampshire closed within four twice down the stretch but could not get any closer. The Black Bears closed out the game with a 7-0 run, securing a 56-47 quarterfinal victory.

Maine will return to semifinal action on Sunday against either Stony Brook or Hartford at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.

NCAA W. BASKETBALL: Emmanuel Slips Past Saint Joseph’s, 71-66

BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel College (17-6, 8-1 GNAC) defeated Saint Joseph's College (17-5, 7-1 GNAC), 71-66, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference http://thegnac.com/landing/index  (GNAC) women's basketball action on Tuesday night. Both teams are now locked in a three-way tie with Johnson & Wales for first place in the conference standings.
 
Senior Sarah Higgins, who netted her 1,000th career point in the triumph, led Emmanuel with 19 points in her milestone effort, shooting 8-13 from the floor. The senior captain also pulled down eight rebounds in the win.
 
After the teams played an even first quarter of 11-11, the Saints opened things up in the second with a 16-5 run over the final five minutes. Six different Saints scored in that run alone as the lead grew to 37-26 heading into the break.
 
Emmanuel opened the third quarter with nine straight points and led by as many as 21 before St. Joe's began to chip away. The Monks, led by Morgan Cahill http://gomonks.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/bios/cahill_morgan_tci9's 20 points, posted a 14-3 run of their own to cut the deficit to 54-45 with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
The game would remain between eight and twelve points down the stretch until six-time GNAC Rookie of the Week Kelsi McNamara http://gomonks.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/bios/mcnamara_kelsi_ti10 hit a layup to shorten the lead to 65-58 with 2:19 left in regulation.
 
McNamara, who opened the game 0-10 from the field, knocked down a pair of three-point field goals in the final seconds, but the Monks were unable to get closer than four points as EC freshman Olivia Dalphonse grabbed a steal and hit a free throw to ice it.
 
Both teams struggled to control the ball, as the Saints turned it over 30 times to the Monks' 29.
 
The EC bench once again proved to be the difference, outscoring the Saint Joe's reserves 27-13. The Saints shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the field while the visitors posted 39.0 percent (23-59).
 
Both teams resume play Saturday when the Monks host Norwich University and the Saints host Simmons College. Both contests are slated to start at 1:00 PM.

Women's Basketball: Eagles lose to Bobcats, 64-49

LEWISTON, Maine - Nina Davenport and Allie Coppola both had double-doubles, including a career-high 22 rebounds for Coppola, as the Bates women's basketball team eased past Husson University in a non-conference game Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

Bates (8-13) received 17 points and 10 rebounds from Davenport, and 15 points and 22 rebounds from Coppola, in addition to a career-high nine assists from Bernadette Connors. The Bobcats effectively picked apart Husson's defense throughout the game, totaling 18 assists on 22 field goals. Bates also outrebounded Husson 52-45.

Husson (15-6) was held to a season-low 24.7 percent shooting from the field (18-for-73), including a season-low 6.3% (1-for-16) from beyond the three-point arc, in seeing its three-game winning streak end. The Eagles' 49 points tied for their season low. Leading scorers Kenzie Worcester and Victoria McIntyre were held to six points apiece, while Chandler Guerrette scored a team-high 10 points. Darla Morales had seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Bobcats got off to an ideal start, outscoring the Eagles 17-8 in the first quarter behind 13 points by Davenport, including four 3-pointers, and nine rebounds by Coppola. Davenport scored the last six points of the period on her third and fourth threes.

Bates then outpaced Husson 17-9 in the second quarter. Lyse Henshaw's layup with 6:44 remaining pushed Bates' lead into double digits, and with 4:07 to go she made a three that gave Bates a 25-10 lead. Linda Herlihy kept things going with back-to-back hoops underneath for a 29-13 lead.

Davenport finished the half with 14 points and seven boards, Coppola had six points and 12 rebounds, and Connors dished out five assists. 

Connors opened the second half with a three-point play to give Bates its first 20-point advantage at 37-17. But Husson more than doubled its point total in the third quarter, outscoring Bates 20-18 in the period. McIntyre came alive with six points, three assists and two boards in the third, while Guerrette had four points and a pair of steals. 

Denae Johnson scored all six of her points in the fourth quarter, as both teams finished with 12 points in the final period.

Coppola's previous career high of 20 rebounds was set last season against Husson. The junior forward had five boards within the first five minutes of the game and pulled down eight additional boards in the fourth quarter to surpass her career best.

Bates next plays a non-conference game at Babson on Friday at 7pm; Husson next plays a North Atlantic Conference game at Green Mountain College on Friday at 5:30pm.

NCAA D3 Women's Basketball: MMA 60 - UMF 55

FARMINGTON, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball held on to defeat Maine-Farmington 60-55, on Tuesday night in North Atlantic Conference play.

The two teams went over three minutes without scoring, until Maine Maritime's Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.) opened up the scoring with a three-pointer. The teams continued to battle closely, entering the second quarter notched at 10-10.

The Mariners held their biggest lead of the game with 5:21 remaining in the second quarter, following a 10-2 run, sparking by a pair of threes from Kristi Willey(Topsham, Maine). The Beavers came back to score six-straight to close out the half and cut Maine Maritime's lead to 22-20.

The Beavers outscored the Mariners 23-16 in the third quarter to take a 43-38 lead into the final quarter. Maine Maritime put together an 11-3 run, capped off by a two threes from Megan McLean (Eliot, Maine) to take a 48-46 lead at 4:34 but Farmington's Rhi Jackson hit a three to tie things up at 55-55 with 1:48 to go.

McLean found Felix under the net for a layup with just over a minute remaining, and a miss on the Beavers' end, followed by a timely defensive rebound from Felix gave the Mariners the ball. Maggie McConkey (Fryeburg, Maine) hit one from the line to give the Mariners a 58-55 edge with 15 seconds to go, and a missed three-pointer and a foul by the Beavers set up two made free throws for Willey to secure the victory.

Six-time North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Week, Felix, led all scorers with 21 points for the Mariners. Felix was dominant on the low block on 7-of-14 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 at the line. The freshman also had seven rebounds and two assists. Willey tallied 15 points, six rebounds, one steal and a block for the Mariners, and McLean contributed 13 points, three assists and a rebound. 

Meghan Smith recorded a double-double for Maine-Farmington with 16 points and 19 rebounds, Kelly Pomerleau added 11 points, three steals and two assists while Jackson ended the evening with eight points off the bench for the Beavers.

The Mariners improve to 14-7 overall and 10-4 in the conference, while the Beavers fall to 11-10 on the season and 9-5 in the NAC. The Mariners will return to action this Friday at Castleton University for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

Women's Basketball: Nor'easters blast Bison; Alanna Vose scores 1,000th

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England raced out to a 20-1 cushion just over six minutes into the game and cruised to an 80-32 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory over Nichols College on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 30) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

Since returning from the holiday break, Big Blue has won all of its 11 outings, improving to 16-3 and 12-0 in the CCC.

Alicia Brown led the early offense and finished with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while adding six rebounds. Alanna Vose hit four treys and tallied 12 of her 18 points in the 4th to become the 23rd player in UNE program history to reach the 1,000-point career plateau. The Nor'easters also received 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals, to go with seven assists and six rebounds, from Meghan Gribbin. Olivia Shaw totaled 15 points and four steals. Lauren Hayden pulled in a game-best 11 boards.

For the contest, the hosts shot 48.5 percent from the floor and converted 29 Bison turnovers into 39 points going the other way (27 fastbreak). Meanwhile, Nichols made just 21.2 percent of its tries in the match.

Brown (8), Gribbin (7), and Shaw (5) were responsible for the scoring early, and UNE made 57 percent (13 for 23) of its attempts in the opening 10 minutes to hold a 29-5 lead. The spread was 30 (43-13) at the half, with all three players already in double figures.

The Nor'easters -- who have taken the last 14 meetings with Nichols, including a 72-31 result less than three weeks ago -- continued to make things difficult for their opponents in the 3rd. Big Blue built the gap up to 62-13 before the Bison got on the board with 1:40 remaining in the period.

Taylor Daniels had a team-high nine points for NC (3-16, 2-10 CCC).

UNE -- which is ranked at No. 25 in the latest WBCA Coaches Top 25 Poll and is receiving votes (#34) in the D3hoops.com Poll -- will remain at home to face Gordon College (0-12 CCC) on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).

A huge congratulations to Alanna, a graduate from Medomak Valley on her 1,000th, may there be a lot more. 

Saint Joseph's Women Top Southern Maine, Claim Costello Cup

STANDISH, Maine – Freshman guard Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) netted 35 points to help lift Saint Joseph’s College (5-1) past University of Southern Maine (2-3), 74-67, in a non-conference women’s basketball contest at the Harold Alfond Center on Sunday evening.
 
THE LEAD
Trailing by nine, 24-15, with 6:40 remaining in the second quarter, McNamara netted 13 points during an 18-0 run which saw the Monks claim a 33-24 advantage after the freshman standout nailed a pair of free throws four minutes later. Saint Joseph’s held a 35-29 advantage at intermission and maintained at least a share of the lead for the remainder of the game, as the Huskies tied the tilt on three occasions in the third quarter but could not secure the lead.
 
COSTELLO CUP
With the victory, Saint Joseph’s claims the Costello Cup, which is presented annually to the winner of