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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Deedra Boudreau, Meg Cressler Share Hodgdon Award
GORHAM, Maine -- University of Southern Maine seniors Deedra (Beveridge)
Boudreau (Camden, Maine) and Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine) have been selected by
the coaches and staff of the Department of Athletics as the 2003-2004 recipients
of the Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award. The awards were presented at the
Athletic Department's recent Senior Awards Night banquet.
The award is given annually to the female student-athlete who exemplifies the
qualities of Hodgdon, a former member of the faculty and field hockey coach who
was a pioneer in women's athletics. The recipient must have played at least three
years on an intercollegiate athletic team, been a valuable member of that team,
and is a woman who displays loyalty, dedication and commitment to the team, the
sport and USM.
A four-year standout for the Huskies' field hockey program, Boudreau also
played lacrosse the past two spring seasons. She ran indoor and outdoor track her
first two years in school.
Boudreau enjoyed the best season of her field hockey career this past fall,
scoring five goals, including two game-winning goals, and being credited with four
assists for 14 points. A tri-captain, she helped the Huskies to a record-setting
17-6 season that included the team's first Little East Conference title and a
berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.
She was recognized for her outstanding play with a spot in the All-Little
East first team and a second team spot on the NFHCA All-Region team for the New
England West Region. She also was selected to play in the NFHCA Senior All-Game.
She concluded her career with 11 goals and 10 assists for 32 points in 89 games.
A two-time All-Little East Conference second team selection, Cressler had a
standout career on the basketball court. She became the 14th player in the
history of the women's basketball program to score 1,000 points when she reached
that milestone against Gordon College at the Grand Canyon Classic in late
December.
During the 2003-04 season, Cressler, the team's captain, averaged 8.3 points
and 5.4 rebounds in 13 games before a knee injury sent her to the sidelines. For
her four-year career, the 5-foot-8 shooting guard averaged 11.0 points and 5.2
rebounds in 95 games.
Among the many basketball honors she received, Cressler was named the Most
Outstanding Player of the 2002 Little East Conference championship tournament.
She also was named to the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA)
second team in 2001-02, the MWBCA All-State first or second team on two occasions
and the MWBCA All-Rookie team in 2000-01.
Boudreau and Cressler are the first co-recipients of the award since it was
established in 1993-94.
Past Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award Winners
Year Recipient, Sport(s)
1993-1994 Melissa Emery, Field Hockey
1994-1995 Rhonda Benner, Women's Track/Cross Country
1995-1996 Lori Towle, Women's Basketball
1996-1997 Mandy King, Women's Basketball
1997-1998 Heather Gilmour, Field Hockey
1998-1999 Alison Drury, Field Hockey
1999-2000 Michelle Cloutier, Softball
2000-2001 Rachel Drury, Soccer
2001-2002 Tina West, Women's Soccer and Softball
2002-2003 Jessica Libby, Women's Basketball
2003-2004 Deedra Boudreau, Field Hockey and Women's Lacrosse
Meg Cressler, Women's Basketball
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Friday, March 12, 2004
Polar Bears' Comeback Downs Huskies, 59-55
BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Senior guard Lora Trenkle (Surry, Maine) scored 22
points, including six in the final minute, as the undefeated and #1 ranked Bowdoin
College Polar Bears overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat the #2
ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies 59-55 in a Northeast Sectional
semifinal game of the 2004 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship
Friday night before a standing room only crowd of 2100 at Morrell Gymnasium.
Bowdoin, now 28-0, advances to Saturday's (March 13) Sectional final (Elite
Eight) game against the University of Scranton Royals. Scranton (27-2) punched
its ticket into the Sectional final by pulling away in the second half from
Wittenberg University to win 68-51.
Southern Maine, which had its school record 26-game winning snapped by the
loss, finished its season 29-2. Both losses came at the hands of the Polar Bears.
Trailing by 11 (45-34) after USM sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan,
Maine) converted a layup for her only points of the game with 9:05 to play, the
Polar Bears went on an 11-0 run over the next four and a half minutes to tie the
game at 45-45. Senior Kristina Fugate (Glenview, Ill.) ignited the run with an
offensive rebound and layup followed the next trip down the floor by Trenkle
hitting a three-pointer from the right wing.
Baskets by junior Alison Smith (Stockton Springs, Maine) and sophomore
Justine Pouravelis (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) followed, and two free throws by
freshman Eileen Flaherty (Fairfield, Conn.) tied the game with 5:39 left in
regulation.
Three times the Huskies would take a two-point lead on baskets by sophomores
Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) and Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) - twice - only to see
Pouravelis or Trenkle tie the game. Bowdoin finally took the lead (53-51) for
good when Flaherty converted two more free throws with 2:17 to play. Trenkle
assured the win by making four free throws and a layup in the final minute.
Befitting the nation's top two teams, the first half was hotly contested from
the opening tap. Both teams enjoyed short runs to take small leads (1-4 points).
Myles, who finished with a game-high 23 points, and freshman Katie Sibley
(Boothbay, Maine) keyed a 6-0 run that gave the Huskies an early 8-4 advantage.
Trenkle, who connected on 4 of 8 three-point shots, buried her first trifecta
to cap a 5-0 Bowdoin run and regain the lead for the host team. The lead would
change hands six times over the next six minutes before Smith made two free throws
to begin a 7-0 run that resulted in a 27-21 lead for the Polar Bears with 5:13
remaining until halftime. Bowdoin did not score the rest of the half.
Myles hit a pair of three-point shots to tie the game at 27-27 with 3:38 to
go. She would score the only two points of the last three minutes to give USM a
29-27 edge at the break as both teams' defenses dug in.
USM opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a 38-29 lead. Over a span
of nearly eight minutes, the Huskies outscored the Polar Bears 17-2.
Trenkle made 7 of 14 shots in the game, grabbed six boards and dished off
five assists. Pouravelis finished the game with 14 points, a game-high 12
rebounds and three blocked shots. Flaherty also reached double figures with 10
points.
Myles added a team-high seven rebounds and five assists to 23 points. Sibley
was the only other USM player to reach double figures with 10 points.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Tickets for NCAA Tournament Go On Sale Wednesday
GORHAM, Maine -- A very limited number of tickets for this weekend's NCAA
Division III Northeast Sectional semifinals and finals will go on sale to the
general public at 12 noon on Wednesday (March 10) in the lobby of the USM Ice
Arena in Gorham.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens (age 62 and
older). Children five and under are free. All sales will be cash only with a
limit of four tickets per individual. No phone orders will be accepted.
The Sectional semifinal games Friday match up the University of Scranton
(26-2) against Wittenberg College (25-5) at 5:00 p.m. and the University of
Southern Maine (29-1) against Bowdoin College (27-0) approximately 30 minutes
after the conclusion of the first game. The two winners will play Saturday at
5:00 p.m. for the right to move on to the Division III national semifinals and
finals March 19-20 in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Saturday, March 6, 2004
Southern Maine Pulls Away From Salem State, 80-57
Jones (23 Points), Webster (22 points) Guide Huskies into NCAA 3rd Round
GORHAM, Maine -Sophomore guard Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 23 points, including the 1,000 of her career, and the University of
Southern Maine Huskies outscored the Salem State College Vikings by a 48-28 margin
in the second half to register an 80-57 triumph in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Hill Gym
Southern Maine advances to the round of 16, where it will face Bowdoin
College, which downed Salve Regina University, 57-44, this afternoon. The game
will played on Friday, with the site and time to be determined. Southern Maine's
only loss this year came against Bowdoin, 59-52, on December 2 in Gorham.
Since that loss, the Huskies have now won a school-record 26 consecutive
games, and currently stand at 29-1. The 29 wins equals a program record initially
set by the 1997-'98 squad, which finished at 29-3. Salem State, which saw its 16-
game unbeaten streak come to a halt, concludes the year at 24-4.
The game witnessed six lead changes and seven ties through the opening 10
minutes, before Southern Maine took the lead for good at 20-18 on a pair of free
throws from Jones with 8:16 remaining. A put back by senior Jen Webster
(Braintree, Mass.) with 49 seconds remaining gave the Huskies their largest lead
of the half at 32-27.
Freshman Meghan DePatsy (Holden, Mass) drained a short jumper with 20
seconds to play to pull Salem State within 32-29 at the break.
Southern Maine opened the second half with an 11-2 run to forge a 43-31
advantage on a lay up and foul shot from Jones with 16:52 to play. The Vikings
closed to within nine pints on two occasions, with the final time coming at 45-36
on a pair of free throws from sophomore Estrella Kuilan (Lowell, Mass.).
The Huskies used a 15-1 run midway through the final session to build their
largest lead of the contest at 76-47 on a pair of free throws from sophomore
Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) with 4:45 remaining. Jones ignited the run with
an open lay up to account for her 1,000th point and give the Huskies a 63-46 lead
with 8:44 to play.
Southern Maine held a decisive 50-32 edge on the boards, and connected on
29-63 (.460) field goals, while Salem State made but 20-60 (.333). In the second
half, the Huskies connected on 18-34 (.529), while limiting the Vikings to 8-28
(.286).
Webster contributed 22 points and a game-co-high nine rebounds, while
sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) added eight pints, 11 assists and a game-co-
high nine boards, and freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) added 10 points and
five assists.
Salem State was paced by DePatsy, who tallied 17 points and collected six
caroms, while freshman Jennifer Tamilio (Salem, Mass.) added 12 points.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Southern Maine Takes Care of Husson, 73-47
Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament Against Salem State
GORHAM, Maine -Sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) tallied a game and
season-high 19 points, while senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) added 14 points
and 10 rebounds, as the University of Southern Maine Huskies employed a 30-5 run
early in the first half to post an easy 73-47 win over the Husson College Braves
in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament on
Wednesday night at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
Southern Maine will host Salem State College in a second round game on
Saturday afternoon (2:00 p.m.). Salem State posted a 78-67 first-round, home win
over Clark on Wednesday night. Southern Maine improved its school-record winning
streak to 25 consecutive games and improved to 28-1. Husson concludes the year at
23-6.
The Braves built a 3-0 lead at 19:11 on a lay up from freshman Annie McIntosh
(New Gloucester, Maine) and a single free throw from freshman Crystal Martin
(Calais, Maine). However, the Huskies responded with a 20-0 run, culminating on a
short jumper from Myles to take a 20-3 advantage with 10:18 to play. A free throw
from sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) gave the Huskies the lead for good
at 4-3, at 17:15.
Sophomore Shauna Mullenix (Epping, N.H.) drained a three-pointer at 9:52 to
pull the Braves within 20-5 and end their scoring drought of 9:19. Mullenix added
a lay-up at 9:32 to cut the deficit to 20-7. It would be as close as Husson would
come the remainder of the game.
The Huskies answered with a 10-1 run to grab a 30-8 advantage on a driving
lay-up from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan) with 6:54 remaining. A long three-
pointer from freshman Shannon Kynoch (So. Burlington, Vt.) with three seconds
remaining in the half, sent the Huskies into the break holding their largest lead
of the half at 45-19.
Southern Maine went up by as many as 61-30 on another long three-pointer from
Kynoch with 11:30 to play, while the Braves could trim the deficit to no fewer
than 45-22 on a three-pointer from sophomore Sarah Davis (Skowhegan, Maine) just
29 seconds into the half.
The Huskies connected on 26-56 (.516) field goal attempts, and limited the
Braves to 19 baskets on 51 shots (.373). Southern Maine additionally held a 37-30
edge on the boards, and forced Husson into 25 turnovers, while committing 17.
Marble, Jones and Kynoch each finished with eight points for the Huskies.
The Braves were led by Mullenix, who tallied nine points, while Martin, Davis
and sophomore Holly Gracie (Frankfort, Maine) added eight points apiece.
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Monday, March 1, 2004
Three Southern Maine Student-Athletes Earn First Team All-Conference Honors
Head Coach Gary Fifield Named Co-Coach of the Year
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomores Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) and Megan Myles
(Turner, Maine/Edward Little HS) and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) have
earned First Team All-Little East Conference honors, while head coach Gary Fifield
received Co-Coach of the Year distinction.
The conference awards were announced today by Commissioner William M. Moore,
and recognize the stellar season compiled thus far by the University of Southern
Maine. Currently ranked second in the D3Hoops.com poll, the Huskies have won a
school record 24 consecutive games and are sporting an overall mark of 27-1.
Southern Maine, which hosts Husson College on Wednesday night in the opening round
of the NCAA Tournament (7:00 pm), will be making its 10th consecutive appearance -
and 18th overall - in the NCAA Tournament.
In conference action, the Huskies swept the regular-season and tournament
titles. In the 18-year history of the conference tournament, the Huskies have won
15 titles, including eight in a row, and appeared in the championship game on 17
occasions.
"The individual honors for Tiffany, Meg and Jen are well-deserved," said
Fifield, who shared Coach of the Year honors with Spencer Manning of Rhode Island
College, marking the 10th time he has won or shared the award. "Individually,
they possess a diverse set of skills and have enjoyed tremendous seasons. More
importantly, they have each demonstrated an unselfish ability to sacrifice
personal goals for the success of the team. That's a rare trait, and one that
further illustrates that Tiffany, Meg and Jen are rare student-athletes."
A two-time LEC Player of the Week selection and Most Outstanding Player of
the conference tournament, Webster finished third in the league in scoring (13.9
ppg), second in field goal percentage (128-257; .498), fifth in free throw
percentage (97-124; .782) and ninth in rebounding (6.3). She tallied double
figures in points in 20 contests, including five games in which she scored 20 or
more points, highlighted by a 26-point effort in the home win over Plymouth State
After scoring six points in just 20 minutes of action in the season-opening
66-28 rout of Coast Guard, Jones has tallied double figures in points in each of
the last 27 contests. She registered 20 or more points on three occasions,
including a season-high 26 points in the home win over Rhode Island College.
Among the conference leaders, Jones is second in scoring (15.0), 12th in
field goal percentage (139-323; .430) and sixth in steals (2.25 spg), three-
pointers made (40) and three-point field goal percentage (40-121; .331).
Myles, a one-time Player of the Week choice, equaled her season-high of 18
points in the conference championship win over Eastern Connecticut. She
contributed 10 or more points in 12 games, hauled in double figures in rebounds on
three occasions and posted a pair of double doubles. She currently ranks fifth in
the conference in steals (2.29 spg), seventh in assists (2.68 apg), 10th in
rebounding (6.1 rpg) and 11th in field goal percentage (113-259; .436). She is
also third on the team in scoring with 9.9 ppg.
2003-2004 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Awards
Player of the Year
Allison Coleman, Senior, Guard, Eastern Connecticut State University
Rookie of the Year
Kari Geisler, Freshman, Forward, Rhode Island College
Co-Coach of the Year
Spencer Manning, Rhode Island College
Gary Fifield, University of Southern Maine
First Team All-Conference
Player Cl. Pos. Institution Hometown
Allison Coleman Sr. F Eastern Connecticut Jewett City, Conn.
Amy Satkevich Sr. F UMass Dartmouth Quincy, Mass.
Tiffany Jones So. F Southern Maine Skowhegan, Maine
Megan Myles So. F Southern Maine Turner, Maine
Jen Webster Sr. F Southern Maine Braintree, Mass.
Christin Morgatto Sr. F Western Connecticut Seymour, Conn.
Second Team All-Conference
Player Cl. Pos. Institution Hometown
Sandy Mosely Fr. F Eastern Connecticut Goshen, Conn.
Stacey Morse So. F Keene State College Lebanon, N.H.
Andrea Arsenault Sr. F Keene State College Dover, N.H.
Kari Geisler Fr. F Rhode Island College Derry, N.H.
Mallory Stevens Fr. F Western Connecticut Seymour, Conn.
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Saturday, February 28, 2004
Southern Maine Defeats Eastern Connecticut for LEC Title 81-55
Huskies Capture Eighth Consecutive Conference Crown
Earn 18th Bid to the NCAA Tournament
GORHAM, Maine -Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) earned tournament Most
Outstanding Performer honors after scoring 18 points and collecting a game-high
eight rebounds to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to their eighth
consecutive Little East Conference Tournament title with an 81-55 win over the
nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors on Saturday
afternoon at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The conference crown is the Huskies' 15th in the 18-year history of the LEC
Tournament. Southern Maine, which extended its school-record winning streak to 24
games, improved to 27-1 and will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the tenth
consecutive year, and 18th time overall.
Eastern Connecticut, which fell to 23-5, will await word on an at-large bid.
Pairings, dates and times for the NCAA Division III Tournament field will be
announced late tomorrow evening.
Southern Maine took control of the game in the opening half, when it
connected on 18-of-28 (.643) field goal attempts, including 5-8 (.625) three-
pointers. Sophomores Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward Little HS) and Tiffany
Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) drained a pair of lengthy three-pointers each to fuel an
18-4 run that enabled the Huskies to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 20-8 advantage with
13:44 remaining in the half.
The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 10 points on two occasions, with the last
time coming at 22-12 with 11:37 remaining on a short jumper from senior Allison
Coleman (Jewett City, Conn.).
However the Huskies responded with a 9-2 run to forge a 31-14 lead on a lay
up from Myles with 8:31 to play. Southern Maine closed out the half with a 6-2
run, culminating on a running lay up from freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine)
with 38 seconds remaining to take a 49-28 lead into the intermission.
The Warriors opened the second half with a short jumper from Coleman to pull
within 49-30 with 19:10 to play, but they would trim the deficit no further the
rest of the game.
Southern Maine answered with a 10-4 run, highlighted by three straight
dribble penetration lay ups from Sibley to take a commanding 59-34 lead with 14:26
to play.
Eastern Connecticut pulled to within 21 points at 63-42 on a pair of free
throws from senior Kathleen Burdelski (Newington, Conn.) with 11:53 to play, while
the Huskies took their largest advantage at 81-51 on a put back from Sibley with
2:17 to play.
For the game, the Huskies connected on 29-58 (.500) field goals, including 8-
13 (.615) three-pointers, while limiting the Warriors to 21 field goals on 55
attempts (.382), including 0-8 (.000) from beyond the three-point arc.
Southern Maine received a game-co-high 20 points and five assists from
Sibley, while Myles added 18 points and seven boards, and Jones, who made 6-7
field goals (.857), including 3-3 (1.000) three pointers, contributed 17 points.
Eastern Connecticut was paced by senior Deanne Prior (Scituate, R.I.), who
scored a game-co-high 20 points, while Coleman added 14 points and six rebounds.
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Friday, February 27, 2004
Southern Maine Downs UMass Dartmouth in LEC Semifinals, 69-46
School Record 23rd Consecutive Win; 17th Appearance in Title Game
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) tallied a game-
high 15 points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies overcame a staunch
effort from the visiting University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs to post a
69-46 triumph in the semifinals of the Little East Conference Tournament on Friday
evening at the Warren G. Hill Gym.
Southern Maine will advance to tomorrow afternoon's championship game (4:00
pm) where it will face Eastern Connecticut State University, which registered a
70-45 win over Rhode Island College in tonight's first semifinal game. The
Huskies will be seeking their eight consecutive conference crown and their 15th in
the 18-year history of the event. Overall, the Huskies will be making their 17th
appearance in the championship game.
With the win, Southern Maine extended its current winning streak to a school
record 23 consecutive games, which eclipses the former mark of 22 established by
the 1997-1998 contingent. The Huskies improved to 26-1 on the season.
UMass Dartmouth concluded the year at 11-16.
The game was a defensive battle throughout, with Southern Maine slowly
pulling away. The Huskies employed a 15-0 run - of which seven points came from
the foul line - early in the second half to take a 59-27 advantage with 10:53
remaining. Marble scored 10 of the team's 15 points.
The Huskies largest lead came at 60-31 with 7:24 remaining on a twisting lay
up from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine). UMass Dartmouth pulled to
within 20 points on two occasions, with the final time coming at 66-46 on a short
jumper from junior Casey Ridge (Quincy, Mass.) with 28 seconds to play.
Southern Maine freshman Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, Vt.) drained a
three-pointer with 14 seconds left to account for the 69-46 final.
The defensive nature of the contest resulted in 51 total fouls (31 against
UMass Dartmouth) and 59 free throws (39 for Southern Maine). The Huskies converted
on 26 foul shots (.667), while UMass Dartmouth made 13-20 (.650).
Neither team shot well from the floor, with the Huskies making 20-62 (.323),
while the Corsairs made 16-56 (.286). Southern Maine held a 54-34 edge in
rebounds.
The Huskies received 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds from senior Jen
Webster (Braintree, Mass.) and 11 points from Jones.
The Corsairs were paced by Ridge, who tallied seven points, while sophomore
Sarah Lynch (Lakeville, Mass.) had seven points and a team-high six rebounds.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Southern Maine Advances to Semifinals, Defeat UMass Boston, 89-47
Huskies Equal School-Record Winning Streak with 22nd Win
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a team-high
13 points to pace four Huskies in double figures and the University of Southern
Maine equaled a school record with its 22nd consecutive win by defeating the
University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons 89-47 in the opening round of the
Little East Conference Tournament on Tuesday night at the Hill Gym.
The Huskies improved to 25-1 and will host this weekend's semifinals and
championship. Southern Maine will face UMass Dartmouth in Friday's second
semifinal game (8:00 pm), while Eastern Connecticut will meet Rhode Island College
in the first semifinal game (6:00 pm). The two semifinal winners will advance to
Saturday's championship (4:00 pm).
Southern Maine tied the program mark for consecutive wins established by the
1997-'98 team. UMass Boston concluded the year at 7-17.
Despite the final score, it was the Beacons who took the early lead. Senior
Indya Mitchell (Weymouth, Mass.) drained a three-pointer off the opening tap to
give UMass Boston a 3-0 lead just six seconds into the contest. However, Southern
Maine responded with a 9-0 run to take control of the contest. A three-pointer
from sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) gave the Huskies the lead for good at
4-3 with 17:35 to play. Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) closed out the run
with a lay-up to give Southern Maine a 9-3 advantage at 15:24.
Sophomore Elmina Darville (Randolph, Mass.) drained a pair of free throws to
halt the Southern Maine run and pull the Beacons within 9-5 with 15:12 to play,
but UMass would pull no closer the remainder of the contest.
Southern Maine responded with a 14-4 run to forge a 23-9 advantage on a lay
up by sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine) at 9:35. After Denise Ridge
(Milton, Mass.) pulled the Beacons to within 23-11 on a short jumper with 8:49 to
play, the Huskies answered with a 15-2 run to put the game out of reach at 38-13
with 3:51 remaining.
Southern Maine took its largest advantage of the half at 45-16 with 33
seconds to play on a lay up by Marybeth Pariseau (South Burlington, Vt.). A single
free throw from Mitchell with 10 seconds left accounted for the halftime score of
45-17.
The teams exchanged free throws and baskets through the opening 10 minutes of
the second half, before Southern Maine went on a 10-0 run to build a 73-35
advantage with 8:08 to play. The Beacons trimmed the deficit to 79-47 on a single
free throw from freshman Erin Towne (East Taunton, Mass.), with 3:11 to play, but
the Huskies closed out the game with a 10-0 run.
The Huskies enjoyed a balanced attack that saw all 12 players in uniform
register at least two points. Webster and sophomore Meg Myles (Turner, Maine)
contributed 12 points each, while Cowing added 10.
For the Beacons, Ridge finished with a game-high 14 points, and Mitchell and
Darville added 11 points apiece.
Southern Maine connected on 24-50 (.480) field goal attempts, while holding
the Beacons to 15-58 (.259). The Huskies also made 37-49 (.755) free throws, while
the Beacons made but 13-20 (.650). Southern Maine held a 48-34 advantage on the
glass.
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Monday, February 23, 2004
Jen Webster Named Little East Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- For the second time this season, University of Southern
Maine senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) has been name the Little East
Conference Player of the Week for women's basketball. Webster, who was honored
for her play last week (February 16-22), also earned the weekly honor for the week
of January 26-February 1.
It also was announced on Monday that the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches
Association (MWBCA) has named Webster and Missy Stults of the University of New
England as its Co-Players of the Week for the February 16-22 period.
In two conference wins last week, Webster averaged 24.0 points and 6.0
rebounds while shooting 76.2 percent (16 of 21) from the floor and 82.4 percent
(14 of 17) from the foul line.
Against Plymouth State, the 5-foot-10 forward tallied 23 points on 7-of-10
shooting, including hitting a pair of three-pointers, and 7-of-8 free throws and
pulled down seven rebounds in a 105-46 win. In the regular season finale Saturday
against UMass Dartmouth, she scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor
and 7-of-9 at the foul line to lead the Huskies to a 98-50 triumph.
For the season, Webster is averaging 13.9 points, second on the team, and 6.1
rebounds. Her 49.8 field goal shooting percentage leads the team and her 78.2
percent foul shooting ranks third.
Webster is one of three members of the Huskies' team to be named Little East
Conference Player of the Week this season. Senior Meg Cressler (Appleton,
Maine/Camden-Rockport HS) won the award January 5 and sophomore forward Megan
Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward Little HS) was the January 19th recipient.
Southern Maine, 24-1 overall and 14-0 in the Little East Conference, begins
its quest for an eighth consecutive LEC championship as the top seed in the
tournament which begins Tuesday evening. The Huskies will host eighth seeded
UMass Boston (7-16, 3-11) in an opening round game at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium
starting at 7:00 p.m.
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Saturday, February 21, 2004
Huskies Concludes Regular Season with 21-Game Winning Streak
GORHAM, Maine - Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) celebrated her final
regular season home game in the Hill Gym with a game-high 25 points and the
University of Southern Maine Huskies extended their season-ending winning streak
to 21 consecutive games with a 98-50 triumph over the visiting University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs in Little East Conference action on Saturday.
The Huskies conclude the regular season with a 24-1 record and a perfect 14-0
slate in conference play. It marks the first time since the 1997-98 campaign and
the fifth time in the 18-year history of the league that the Huskies have
completed the regular season unbeaten in conference play. UMass Dartmouth finished
the regular season with an overall record of 10-15 and a 6-8 mark in conference
play.
Each team will host a first round game in the Little East Conference on
Tuesday night (7:00 pm). The Huskies will serve as the number-one seed and host
the number-eight team, while UMass Dartmouth will be the number-four seed and host
number-five Keene State.
The Huskies outscored the Corsairs by a 53-22 margin in the second half, and
held the guests to just five second-half field goals, of which four were three-
pointers.
By contrast, the opening minutes witnessed a highly-competitive game. A
three-pointer from freshman Katie Lunnin (South Boston, Mass.), closed a 6-0 run
and pulled the Corsairs within 16-14 with 11:06 remaining. However, the Huskies
responded with an 11-0 run to forge a 27-14 advantage with 8:31 to play in the
half.
UMass closed the deficit to 28-20 on a three-pointer by Kelly O'Neil
(Mansfield, Maine) with 7:22 remaining, but the Corsairs would pull no closer the
rest of the game. Southern Maine scored seven consecutive points, culminating on a
lay up from freshman Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, Vt.) to grab a 35-20 edge
with 6:17 left. A single free throw from sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills,
Maine) with 25 seconds to play gave the Huskies a 45-28 lead at the break.
The Huskies opened the second half with a 21-5 run to build a 66-33 lead on a
lay up from Webster at 12:51. After junior Casey Ridge (Quincy, Mass.) sank a
three-pointer to pull the Corsairs to 66-36 with 12:30 to play, the Huskies
answered with a 14-0 run to build an 80-36 advantage with 7:48 to play.
The Huskies took their largest lead at 94-43 on a follow up by Marybeth
Pariseau (South Burlington, Vt.).
Southern Maine connected on 35-62 (.565) field goal attempts, and held UMass
Dartmouth to just 16 baskets on 54 attempts (.296). The Huskies also enjoyed a
commanding 45-24 edge on the boards.
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) added 11 points for the Huskies,
while sophomore Meghan Myles (Turner, Maine), Pariseau and Kynoch had 10 points
each.
The Corsairs received a team-high 12 points from junior Bridget Bowes
(Mansfield, Maine), while sophomore Kerri Augenstein (East Greenwich, R.I.) added
10 points.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Huskies Win 20th Straight, Rout Panthers 105-46
PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) scored a
game-high 23 points to pace five players in double figures as the second-ranked
University of Southern Maine Huskies routed the Plymouth State University Panthers
105-46 in a Little East Conference game Tuesday night at Foley Gymnasium.
The win was the 20th straight for the Huskies who remained undefeated in
conference play (13-0), and improved to 23-1 overall. The winning streak is the
second longest in school history, surpassed only by a 22-game winning streak
during the 1997-98 season. The Panthers dropped their fourth consecutive game to
fall to 10-14 overall and 4-9 in the conference.
The Huskies scored the game's first nine points as sophomore forward Tiffany
Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) converted a lay-up, sophomore Megan Myles (Turner,
Maine/Edward Little HS) buried a three-pointer, and Webster made two free throws
and a lay-up before freshman Heather Thomas (Merrimack, N.H.) put the Panthers on
the board.
Southern Maine's margin quickly grew to 20 (24-4 with 13:24 to go), and
reached 30 (43-13) with seven minutes to go in the half. The Huskies would shoot
50 percent (21 for 42) in the half, including 57 percent (8 for 14) from beyond
the three-point arc. Webster and Jones combined for 31 points in the opening half
as the Huskies took a 61-28 advantage to the locker room.
Webster, Jones and Myles keyed an 18-4 run in the opening seven minutes of
the second half to settle the issue.
Webster made 7-of-10 shots from the floor, including a pair of three-
pointers, and 7-of-8 free throws for her 23 points. She also pulled down a game-
high seven rebounds.
Jones finished her night's work with 20 points. Freshman Lindsey Welch
(Newport, Maine/Nokomis Regional HS) came off the bench to toss in 12 points, and
sophomores Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) and Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills,
Maine/Erskine Academy) each had 10.
Senior Courtney O'Clair (Stow, Mass.) came off the bench to lead the Panthers
with 11 points.
The Huskies red-hot shooting in the first half was even hotter in the second
half, connecting on 18 of 25 shots (72 percent). USM finished the game shooting a
season-best 58.2 percent (39 of 67) from the floor, including 12-of-18 from three-
point territory. The Huskies also had a 45-24 advantage on the boards.
Southern Maine will close the regular season this Saturday afternoon (1:00
p.m.) when it entertains the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at the Hill
Gymnasium. Plymouth State will host Western Connecticut State University on
Saturday.
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Saturday, February 14, 2004
USM Huskies Win 19th Straight, Beat R.I. College 84-46
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine)
scored a game-high 19 points to pace four players in double figures as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies won their 19th straight game by defeating the
Rhode Island College Anchorwomen 84-46 in a Little East Conference game Saturday
afternoon.
Southern Maine, 22-1 overall and 12-0 in the conference, clinched the top
seed in the upcoming championship tournament. Rhode Island College slipped to
14-9 overall and 6-6 in the conference.
Jones, who connected on 6 of 7 from the floor including all three of her
three-point attempts, snapped a 2-2 tie with a free throw that ignited an 11-0 run
and the Huskies never looked back. The lead reached 20 points (26-6) midway
through the first half when sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward Little HS)
banked in a shot, and peaked at 34 (51-17) late in the half. Southern Maine took
a 53-22 advantage to the locker room by shooting 63.3 percent (19 for 30) from the
floor while holding the Anchorwomen to just 22.9 percent shooting (8 for 35).
Sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) had 14 points, Myles finished with 13
and a game-high 10 rebounds, and sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield,
Maine/Woodland HS) came off the bench to toss in 12 for the Huskies.
Freshman Kari Geisler (Derry, N.H.) was the lone Rhode Island College player
to reach double figures with 17 points.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 50.8 percent (32 for 63) from the
floor while holding Rhode Island College to 27.4 percent shooting (17 for 62) and
forcing 29 turnovers. The Huskies had a huge 55-36 advantage on the board.
The Huskies return to action Tuesday night when they travel to Plymouth,
N.H., to take on the Plymouth State University Panthers. Rhode Island College
will travel to Danbury, Conn., on Tuesday to take on Western Connecticut State
University.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
USM Huskies Outshine UMB Beacons, 75-47
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) registered a game-
co-high 12 points and a team-high six rebounds to pace four Huskies in double
figures in points and lead the University of Southern Maine to a convincing 75-47
triumph over the visiting University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons on Tuesday
evening in Little East Conference action at the Hill Gym.
The win was the 18th in a row for Southern Maine, which improved to 21-1
overall and 11-0 in the Conference. UMass Boston, which suffered its fourth
consecutive loss, fell to 6-13 and 2-9. The Beacons will return to action on
Thursday when they travel to Framingham State, while the Huskies will resume play
with a trip to Rhode Island College on Saturday.
Southern Maine employed an 11-0 run midway through the first half to turn a
26-19 lead into a commanding 37-19 advantage with 5:16 remaining. Marble began the
run with a pair of lay ups before sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) added two
free throws and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) drained a short jumper.
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) closed the stretch with a baseline
three pointer.
The Beacons trimmed the deficit to 37-24 with 3:43 remaining, when sophomore
Agata Matel (Dorchester, Mass.) hit a running lay up and added a free throw.
However, the Huskies closed out the half with a 9-2 run, culminating on a running
jumper from freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) at the buzzer to take a 46-26
lead into the break.
The Huskies opened the second half with a 13-2 run to grab a comfortable
59-28 advantage with 15:51 to play. Jones fueled the run with six points, while
Webster added five and sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) contributed two
points.
The Beacons answered with a 5-0 run, culminating on a lay up from freshman
Lauren Bertolini (Danville, Vt.) to pull with in 59-33 with 13:25 remaining, but
they would close the deficit no further the remainder of the game.
Southern Maine took its largest lead at 71-33 on a single free throw from
freshman Lindsey Welch (Newport, Maine) with 7:17 to play.
Jones and Webster each tallied 12 points and Myles finished with 10 for the
Huskies, while freshman Ashley Greene (Brookline, Mass.) led the Beacons with 10
points and freshman Erin Towne (East Taunton, Mass.) led all players with seven
rebounds.
##################################################################################
Monday, February 9, 2004
Ashley Marble Named LEC Co-Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore forward Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine/Woodland
HS) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies nationally-ranked women's
basketball team has been named Co-Rookie of the Week by the Little East Conference
and the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association for the week of February 2-8.
The awards were announced Monday afternoon.
Marble shared the Little East weekly honor with Katie Lunnin of the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and the MWBCA honor with Karen Sirois of
the University of Maine at Farmington.
The LEC also announced that USM sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan,
Maine) had been named to the weekly honor roll.
Marble, a 5-foot-9 forward who transferred to USM after spending her freshman
year at the University of Maine on a volleyball scholarship, averaged 16.5 points
and 6.5 rebounds in the Huskies' wins over St. Joseph's College and Keene State
College. She shot 69.2 percent (9 for 13) from floor and 88.2 percent (15 of 17)
at the foul line.
Against St. Joseph's, Marble scored 11 points (3 for 5 from the floor, 5 for
7 at the foul line), grabbed four rebounds and made eight steals in 21 minutes off
the bench. On Saturday against Keene State, she had a season-high 22 points (6
for 8 from the floor, 10 for 10 at the line) and nine rebounds.
"(Marble) had an outstanding week, not just scoring wise, but on the
defensive end and on the boards," praised veteran head coach Gary Fifield.
For the season, Marble is averaging 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
She is shooting 45.6 percent (47 for 103) from the floor and 69.7 percent (69 for
99) at the foul line. She is third on the team with 39 steals.
Saturday's win over Keene State was the Huskies 20th of the season, extending
their NCAA Division III women's basketball record for consecutive seasons winning
20-or-more games to 24 seasons (1980-81 through present).
Southern Maine (20-1, 10-0), ranked second nationally by d3hoops.com and
third in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA poll, will host the University of Massachusetts
Boston (6-12, 2-8) in a Little East Conference game Tuesday night at the Warren
Hill Gymnasium starting at 5:30 p.m.
##################################################################################
Saturday, February 7, 2004
Ashley Marble, Southern Maine Down Keene State, 83-57
Huskies Extend NCAA Division III Record of Consecutive 20-Win Seasons to 24
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) recorded game
highs of 22 points and nine rebounds to lead three Huskies in double figures in
points as the University of Southern Maine rolled to an 83-57 triumph over the
visiting Keene State College Owls on Saturday afternoon in Little East Conference
action at the Hill Gym.
Currently ranked number-two in the latest d3Hoops.com poll, Southern Maine
extended its current winning streak to 17 games and improved to 20-1 overall and
10-0 in the league. In addition, the Huskies improved their own NCAA Division III
record of consecutive 20-win season to 24. Southern Maine has won a minimum of 20
games every year since the 1980-81 campaign.
Keene State, which has now lost two straight and seven-of-eight, fell to 8-12
overall and 3-7 in the league. The teams return to action on Tuesday, when Keene
State entertains in-state rival Plymouth State, while Southern Maine will host
UMass Boston.
Southern Maine opened the second half with an 11-2 run to build a commanding
49-32 lead with 15:56 remaining. The Owls pulled to within 49-35 on a three-
pointer from sophomore Megan Lane (Hawthorne, N.J.) on their ensuing possession,
but they would pull no closer.
A single free throw from freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) capped a 27-
8 run and gave the Huskies their largest lead at 76-43 with 5:34 remaining. The
Owls halted the run with a three-pointer from sophomore Bekka Hopkins (Oxford,
Mass.) to pull within 76-46 with 4:52 remaining. It marked just the third field
goal for Keene State over a stretch of 9:58.
The Owls would trim the deficit no further than 81-57 on a single free throw
from freshman Tara Wagner (Avon, Conn.) with 36 seconds to play. A pair of foul
shots from Southern Maine freshman Lindsey Welch (Newport, Maine) with 26 seconds
to play accounted for the final score.
The Huskies never trailed but the score was tied on three occasions. The Owls
forced the final tie at 17-17 on a short jumper from sophomore Brittany Faulkner
(Lebanon, N.H.) with 10:02 remaining in the first half. However, Southern Maine
answered with a 17-4 run, capped by a lay up from Marble to grab a 34-21 edge with
5:16 to play.
The Huskies took their largest lead of the first half at 38-24 with 1:55
remaining, but the Owls scored the final six points to close within 38-30 at the
break.
Marble, who was a perfect 10-10 from the foul line, was joined in double
figures in points by sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine), who added 18
points, and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.), who contributed 11 points.
The Owls were paced by Hopkins, who drained four three pointers to finish
with a team-high 17 points, while Lane, senior Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H) and
freshman Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) added seven points apiece.
##################################################################################
Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Jones Leads Huskies by Monks 80-54
STANDISH, Maine -- Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine)
scored a team-high 18 points to pace five players in double figures as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the St. Joseph’s College Monks,
80-54, in non-conference basketball action Wednesday night at the Alfond Center.
The win was the 16th straight for the nationally-ranked Huskies who
improved to 19-1 overall. St. Joseph’s slipped to 10-10 on the season. This
was the Huskies ninth straight win over the Monks.
After two early ties, the Huskies took the advantage for good on a jumper
by sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward Little HS) that ignited an 8-0
run. A basket by sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) and a pair of free
throws by Jones and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) gave the Huskies a 12-
4 lead just past the four minute mark.
Senior Abbie Rice (South Portland, Maine) hit a jumper to pull the Monks
back within four (12-8), but the Huskies would go on a 13-0 blitz over a three-
minute span, sparked by Myles’ seven points, to take a commanding 17-point lead
(25-8) eight minutes into the contest.
Southern Maine pushed the lead to as many as 25 (46-21) before St.
Joseph’s scored the final four points of the half to trail 46-25 at the break.
The Monks opened the second half with an 8-2 run to get back within 15
(48-33), but three-point shots by Frost and Jones sandwich a pair of free throws
by junior Laura Pelkey (Palmyra, Maine/Nokomis HS) to swing the momentum back to
the Huskies. The Monks would get no closer than 17 (57-40) the rest of the way.
Jones struggled with her shooting from the floor making only 3 of 11
shots, but she buried 11 of 12 free throws on the way to her 18 points. Frost
and Myles each chipped in 13 points while Webster and sophomore Ashley Marble
(Topsfield, Maine/Woodland) had 11 points apiece. Marble also had eight steals.
Rice, who connected on 8 of 12 shots from the floor, led all scorers with
19 points. Senior Morgan Brownlee (Portland, Maine) was the only other St.
Joseph’s player to reach double figures with 10 points.
Southern Maine shot 45.3 percent (24 of 53) from the floor and 78.8
percent (26 of 33) from the foul line in the game. St. Joseph’s, which had a
45-33 advantage on the boards, shot just 34.4 percent (21 of 61) from the floor
and committed 29 turnovers.
The Huskies return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Little East
Conference rival Keene State College at the Warren Hill Gymnasium. Game time is
1:00 p.m. St. Joseph’s will host Maine Maritime Academy starting at 2:00 p.m.
on Saturday.
##################################################################################
Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Webster Named ECAC Division III New England Player of the Week
##################################################################################
Monday, February 2, 2004
Jen Webster Named LEC Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) of the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies women's basketball team has
been selected as the Little East Conference and the Maine Women's Basketball
Coaches Association (MWBCA) Player of the Week for the week of January 26 through
February 1. The announcements were made Monday afternoon.
Webster is the third member of the Huskies' team to be named Little East
Conference Player of the Week. Senior Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine/Camden-
Rockport HS) won the award January 5 and sophomore forward Megan Myles (Turner,
Maine/Edward Little HS) was the January 19th recipient.
In two games last week against Plymouth State University and Western
Connecticut State University, Webster averaged 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0
steals while shooting 80.0 percent (20 for 25) from the floor to lead the Huskies
to a pair of victories and extend their current winning streak to 15 games.
Southern Maine is 18-1 overall and a perfect 9-0 in conference play.
Against Plymouth State, the 5-foot-10 forward tossed in 26 points on 12-of-14
shooting, pulled down three rebounds and made six steals. At Western Connecticut,
she scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 from the foul
line, grabbed four rebounds and made a pair of steals.
"(Webster) really had two great games last week. She has really elevated up
her game now that she fully understands what we're asking her to do. Since second
semester began, she's really been playing well for us. Just look at her field
goal percentage which has gone from (39) percent to 48 percent," commented veteran
head coach Gary Fifield.
On the season, Webster is averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds
per game. She leads the team in field goal percentage (48.0 percent, 85 of 177)
and is second in free throw percentage (81.2 percent, 56 of 69). According to the
latest Little East Conference statistics, Webster ranks fifth in scoring and field
goal percentage, third in free throw percentage and is tied for seventh in
rebounding.
The Huskies, ranked second in last week's d3hoops.com poll and third in the
USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division III national poll (new polls to be release Tuesday,
February 3), travel to Standish, Maine, Wednesday evening to take on in-state
rival St. Joseph's College. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
##################################################################################
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Jen Webster Leads #2-Ranked Southern Maine to 76-50 Win at Western Conn.
DANBURY, Conn. - Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) scored a game-high 23
points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies sandwiched a 13-2 scoring run
around the halftime break to turn a close contest into a 76-50 triumph over the
Western Connecticut State University Colonials in Little East Conference action on
Saturday afternoon at Feldman Arena.
Ranked second in this week's d3hoops.com national poll, Southern Maine
extended its current winning streak to 15 games and improved to 18-1 overall and
9-0 in the conference. Western Connecticut slipped to 7-12 and 3-6. The teams
will step outside the league to face non-conference action this week when Western
Connecticut travels to Trinity College on Tuesday and Southern Maine ventures to
St. Joseph's College on Wednesday.
Despite the final score, the game was tightly contested throughout the first
half. A three-pointer from freshman guard Allyson Padden (East Haven, Conn.)
pulled the Colonials to within one (28-27) with 2:01 remaining in the half.
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) answered with a three-pointer on
the Huskies' ensuing possession and ignited a 7-2 run to close out the half.
Southern Maine held a 35-29 advantage at the break. The Huskies scored the first
six points of the second half, culminating on a lay up from sophomore Megan Myles
(Turner, Maine) to grab a 41-29 advantage with 18:54 to play.
Western Connecticut pulled to within 43-34 on a free throw from freshman
Mallory Stevens (Seymour, Conn.) with 16:55 remaining, but the Huskies responded
with a 10-1 run to forge a commanding 54-34 lead with 12:01 remaining.
The Colonials would pull no closer than 56-39 on a three-pointer from
freshman Jennifer Ficarrotta (Yonkers, N.Y.), while the Huskies would take their
largest lead at 76-45 on a short jumper from sophomore Dianna Thibaudeau (Sanford,
Maine).
Jones added 19 points for the Huskies, while freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay,
Maine) tossed in 12 points. The Colonials were led by Stevens, who scored a team-
high 16 points and hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds, while Ficarrotta added
nine points.
Southern Maine connected on 28-58 (.483) field goal attempts, while holding
Western Connecticut to 16-42 (.381). The Huskies also forced the Colonials into
committing 35 turnovers.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2004
#2-Ranked Southern Maine Wins 14th Straight, Downs Plymouth State, 82-62
GORHAM, Maine - Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) scored a game-high 26
points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies extended their current winning
streak to 14 consecutive games with an 82-62 triumph over Little East Conference-
foe Plymouth State University on Tuesday evening at the Hill Gym.
Ranked second in this week's D3Hoops.com national poll, Southern Maine
improved to 17-1 overall and 8-0 in the conference, while Plymouth State slipped
to 8-10 and 3-5. The teams return to action Saturday, when Southern Maine travels
to Western Connecticut and Plymouth State ventures to UMass Dartmouth.
The Huskies led from start to finish and jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Plymouth
State responded with consecutive baskets from junior Lauren Devereaux (Hope
Valley, R.I.) and sophomore Katie Susat (Glastonbury, Conn.) to pull within 9-4
with 17:11 to play. The Panthers would close the deficit no further the rest of
the game.
Southern Maine answered with a three-pointer from sophomore Katie Frost
(Calais, Maine) and a lay up from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) to
grab its first double-digit lead at 14-4 with 16:01 remaining.
Plymouth State trimmed the deficit to less than 10 points on two occasions,
with the final time coming at 16-8 on a short jumper from junior Betsy Oswalt
(Jaffrey, N.H.) with 15:16 to play. However, the Huskies responded with a 10-3
run, culminating on a long jumper from Frost, to forge a 26-11 lead with 12:34
remaining.
A lay up and foul shot from Webster with 2:13 remaining gave Southern Maine
its largest lead of the first half at 41-19. Plymouth State scored the final six
points of the frame to enter the break trailing by a 41-25 margin.
The Huskies maintained an 18-22 point lead throughout the majority of the
second half before pulling away in the closing minutes. Southern Maine took its
largest advantage at 80-54 on a pair of free throws from junior Megan Myles
(Turner, Maine) with 5:14 to play.
Southern Maine received 12 points from Jones and 11 points and a team-high
six rebounds from sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine).
Susat led Plymouth State with 16 points, while freshman Colleen Mahoney
(North Attleboro, Mass.) added 11 points, and freshman Heather Thomas (Merrimack,
N.H.) and senior Mandi Allen (Blue Hill, Maine) added 10 points apiece.
##################################################################################
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Southern Maine Solidifies Conference Lead, Downs Eastern Connecticut, 64-56
GORHAM, Maine - Senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) scored a team-high 17
points to pace three Huskies in double figures and the University of Southern
Maine withstood a second-half comeback by the Eastern Connecticut State University
Warriors to post a 64-56 win in Little East Conference action on Saturday
afternoon at the Hill Gym.
Triumphant in 13 consecutive games, Southern Maine improves to 16-1 overall
and 7-0 in the Conference, while Eastern Connecticut, which saw its 10-game
winning streak come to a halt, fell to 14-2 overall and 5-2 in the league. The
Warriors two losses this year have come at the hands of the Huskies. Southern
Maine posted a 73-59 triumph at Eastern Connecticut in early December. The teams
return to action on Tuesday, when Southern Maine, ranked fifth in the latest
D3Hoops.com national pool, hosts Plymouth State, while eighth-ranked Eastern
Connecticut will travel to Keene State.
Following a long jumper from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) that
gave the Huskies a 31-21 advantage in the opening minute of the second half,
Eastern Connecticut answered with an 18-4 run to grab a 39-35 advantage with 14:06
to play. Senior Allison Coleman (Jewett City, Conn.), who finished the contest
with a game-high 19 points, fueled the run with seven points. She also collected
her 1,000th career rebound with 16:48 to play to become the first player in
program history to register 1,000 career points and rebounds.
Southern Maine answered with an 18-3 run to build a 53-42 lead at 5:39
remaining. Webster sank a pair of free throws to give the Huskies the lead for
good at 41-39 with 11:44 to play, and added two more free throws to culminate the
scoring stretch.
Eastern Connecticut could pull no closer than 62-56 on a lay up by senior
guard Kathleen Burdelski (Newington, Conn.) with five seconds remaining. Freshman
Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) sank a pair of free throws with four seconds
remaining to account for the final score.
Eastern Connecticut enjoyed its lone lead of the first half at 2-0 on a short
jumper from Coleman at 18:58. However the Huskies responded with a 12-0 run,
capped by a three pointer from sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) to take their
largest lead of the half at 12-2 with 13:43 to play. Southern Maine entered the
break holding a 29-21 lead.
Jones finished with 13 points for Southern Maine, while sophomore Meg Myles
(Turner, Maine) added 12 points and a game-co-high 11 rebounds. Freshman guard
Sarah Paradis (Bristol, Conn.) contributed 10 points for the Warriors, while
sophomore Katie Kline (No. Brookfield, Mass.) added four points and 11 boards.
Southern Maine won the game at the line, where it connected on 20-24 free
throws (.833), while Eastern Connecticut made 11-13 (.846). The Warriors outscored
the Huskies by a 45-44 margin from the floor.
##################################################################################
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Southern Maine Wins 12 Straight, Beat UMass Boston 78-42
BOSTON -- Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 17 points to pace three players in double figures as the University of
Southern Maine Huskies won their 12th straight game Tuesday night by defeating
the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons 78-42 in a Little East Conference
game at the Clark Athletic Center.
Southern Maine, ranked as high as fifth nationally in the weekly Division
III polls released today, improved to 15-1 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
UMass Boston dropped its sixth consecutive game to fall to 4-8 overall and 0-6
in the conference. The two teams will meet again February 10 at Southern Maine.
After sophomore Elmina Darville (Randolph, Mass.) tied the game at 2-2 for
UMB in the opening minute, the Huskies began to methodically pull away to a 20-5
lead midway through the opening half. Jones, sophomore Megan Myles (Turner,
Maine/Edward Little HS) and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) combined for
18 of the Huskies’ first 20 points.
The Beacons cut the margin to nine (22-13) on senior Indya Mitchell’s
(Weymouth, Mass.) three-point shot with 7:06 to go, but the Huskies used a 14-4
run over the final seven minutes to take a 36-17 advantage to the locker room at
half-time.
The lead grew to as many as 39 (62-23 with 9:35 to play) in the second
half as the Beacons never threatened the Huskies’ lead.
Jones dropped in 5 of 7 shots from the floor, including a three-pointer,
and converted 6 of 8 free throws for her game-high 17 points. Webster finished
with 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Donna Cowing
(Weeks Mills, Maine/Erskine Academy) chipped in 10 points, five assists and five
steals.
Mitchell was the lone Beacon to reach double figures with 15 points coming
on five three-pointers.
The Huskies shot 44.4 percent (28 of 63) in the game while holding the
Beacons to just 25 percent (15 of 60) shooting and forcing 27 turnovers. USM
also had a 48-38 advantage on the boards.
Southern Maine returns home Saturday to face nationally ranked Eastern
Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference showdown. Game time is
1:00 p.m. UMass Boston looks to get back on the winning track on Thursday with
a non-conference game at Bridgewater State College.
##################################################################################
Monday, January 19, 2004
USM's Megan Myles Named LEC Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward Little
HS) of the nationally ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies women's
basketball has been named the Little East Conference Player of the Week for the
week of January 12-18. The announcement was made by the conference office Monday
afternoon.
Myles, who transferred to USM from Merrimack College, helped the Huskies to a
3-0 mark last week averaging 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 67.9
percent (19 of 28) from the floor. She also dished out seven assists, made seven
steals and blocked two shots in the three games.
The 5-foot-11 forward had 15 points and four rebounds in the Huskies' 87-44
win over LEC foe Rhode Island College, eight points and a season-high 12 rebounds
in a 65-51 non-conference win over highly-regarded Salem State College, and 18
points and seven boards in a 93-51 conference victory over the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth.
"Megan has been playing with a lot more confidence of late. She's become
comfortable with what we're doing (at both ends of the floor), and that's allowing
her to become the player we thought she would be," commented veteran head coach
Gary Fifield.
For the season, Myles is averaging 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. She
is shooting 46.0 percent (64 of 139) from the floor and leads the team with 39
assists.
Southern Maine, presently 14-1 overall and atop the Little East Conference
standings with a 5-0 mark, returns to action Tuesday evening traveling to Boston
to take on the University of Massachusetts Beacons.
##################################################################################
Saturday, January 17, 2004
USM Extends Winning Streak to 11 with a 93-51 Triumph at UMass Dartmouth
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Sophomore forward Meg Myles (Turner, Maine) scored a
game-high 18 points to pace five Huskies in double figures, and the University of
Southern Maine employed a 28-8 run around the halftime break to post an easy 93-51
triumph over the host University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs in Little
East Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Southern Maine extended its winning streak to 11 straight and improved its
overall record to 14-1 and its conference-leading ledger to 5-0. UMass Dartmouth
slipped 5-9 overall and 1-3. The teams return to action on Tuesday, when Southern
Maine travels to UMass Boston and UMass Dartmouth entertains Rhode Island College.
A lay up from sophomore Kerri Augenstein (East Greenwich, R.I.) pulled the
Corsairs to within 28-22 with 5:33 remaining in the first half. However, a lay up
and free throw from senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) ignited a 15-6 Southern
Maine run to give the Huskies a 43-28 advantage at the break.
Southern Maine opened the second half with a 13-2 run capped by a lay up from
freshman guard Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) to forge a commanding 56-30 lead
with 16:31 remaining.
The Corsairs received five consecutive points from freshman Laura Goggin
(Rockland, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 56-35 with 15:11 remaining, but they would
pull no closer. The Huskies took their largest lead at 93-48 on a pair of free
throws from freshman Lindsey Welch (Newport, Maine) with 1:09 to play.
Southern Maine received 15 points from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan,
Maine), while Webster finished with 13, freshman Shannon Kynoch (So. Burlington,
Vt.) added 12 points on a quartet of three pointers, and freshman Marybeth
Pariseau (So. Burlington, Vt.) contributed 11 points.
The Corsairs were paced by freshman Katie Lunnin (South Boston, Mass.), who
finished with nine points, while seniors Amy Satkevich (Quincy, Mass.) and Kelly
O'Neil (Mansfield, Mass.) added eight points apiece.
##################################################################################
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Huskies Hold Off Vikings 65-51
SALEM, Mass. -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies converted 7-of-8
free throws over the final three minutes to hold on for a 65-51 victory over the
Salem State College Vikings in a non-conference game played Thursday night.
The win was the 10th straight for the fifth-ranked Huskies, and improved
their overall record to 13-1. Salem State had its three-game win streak stopped
and fell to 8-3. The game was a matchup of two teams that faced each other in
the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.
Leading by seven (56-49) after Salem State freshman Jennifer Tamilio
(Salem, Mass.) hit a pair of charity tosses with 3:03 to play, the Huskies
outscored the Vikings 9-2, including the final seven points of the game, down
the stretch to preserve the win.
The game turned in the Huskies’ favor midway through the first half. With
the score deadlocked at 16-16, USM used a 9-0 run to take a 25-16 advantage.
Sophomore Megan Myles (Auburn, Maine) had four points, senior Jen Webster
(Braintree, Mass.) hit a three-pointer and freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay,
Maine) buried a jumper to account for the nine points.
After the Vikings responded with a 6-0 run to cut the margin to three (25-
22) with 3:41 to go, the Huskies’ defense held the hosts scoreless the rest of
the half while Webster ignited another 9-0 run with a pair of baskets.
Southern Maine maintained its double-figure lead in the second half until
the Vikings put together an 8-2 run to slice the margin to eight (48-40) on
Tamilio’s three-point shot. USM was able to push the lead back up to 12 before
the Vikings made on final push to pull within seven on two occasions, the last
on freshman Meghan DePatsy’s (Holden, Mass.) layup with 2:18 to go.
Sibley hit two free throws, sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) made
a layup, sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine/Woodland HS) made one of two
free throws and sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine/Erskine Academy)
convert two freebies over the final two minutes to account for the final margin.
Webster and Jones pace the Huskies with 15 points apiece. Sibley finished
the night with 14 points while Myles added eight points and 12 rebounds. Marble
came off the bench to score eight points and grab a game-high 14 rebounds.
Tamilio took game-high scoring honors with 17 points for the Vikings.
DePatsy was the only other Salem State player to reach double figures with 10
points.
Southern Maine hits the road again Saturday when it travels to North
Dartmouth, Mass., to play Little East Conference rival, the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth. Salem State will travel to Fitchburg State College on
Saturday for its next contest.
##################################################################################
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Fifth-Ranked Southern Maine Wins Ninth Straight, 87-44 Over Rhode Island College
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 26 points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies bolted to a 44-17
halftime lead en route to an 87-44 Little East Conference triumph over the
visiting Rhode Island College Anchorwomen on Tuesday night at the Hill Gym.
Currently ranked fifth nationally in the DIII Hoops.com poll, the Huskies
improved to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference, while Rhode Island College
slipped to 7-5 and 2-2. The teams return to action on Thursday, when Southern
Maine travels to Salem State College and Rhode Island College entertains Pine
Manor.
Southern Maine compiled a 25-6 run midway through the first half to turn a
7-5 lead into a 32-11 advantage with 5:32 to play. A short jumper from sophomore
Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) capped the run and was the 12th consecutive point
scored by the Huskies.
Freshman guard Lisa Ranzoni (Lee, Mass) hit a layup to break the Southern
Maine scoring string and pull the Anchorwoman within 32-13 with 5:20 remaining in
the half.
However, the Huskies answered with a 12-3 run to take their largest advantage
of the half at 44-16 on a put back by senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) with
48 seconds remaining in the half. Rhode Island College received a single free
throw from freshman forward Kari Geisler (Derry, N.H.) to account for the 44-17
half time score.
Southern Maine opened the second half with a 21-1 run, culminating on a
three-pointer by Jones to take a commanding 65-18 advantage with 12:46 to play in
the contest. The Huskies took their largest advantage at 76-26 on a follow up by
freshman center Lauren Samuelson (Southbury, Conn.) with 8:30 to play.
Rhode Island College pulled with 81-42 on a running lay up by Geisler with
3:23 to play, but the Huskies closed out the game with a 6-2 run.
Southern Maine connected on 30-57 (.526) field goal attempts, while limiting
Rhode Island College to 17 baskets on 53 attempts (.321). The Huskies also held a
commanding 46-24 advantage on the glass. All 11 Huskies who entered the game
contributed to the final score, including Myles, who tallied 15 points and
freshman Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, Vt.) who added nine points.
Rhode Island College received nine points from freshman Caitlin Ryan
(Chepachet, R.I.) and six points from each Geisler and junior Heather Pettigrew
(Cranston, R.I.).
##################################################################################
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Southern Maine Shuts Down Keene State, 68-43
KEENE, N.H - Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) tallied a game-
high 20 points and added nine rebounds to lead three Huskies in double figures,
and the University of Southern Maine limited the Keene State College Owls to 12
second half points en route to a 68-43 Little East Conference win on Saturday
afternoon at the Spaulding Gym.
Ranked sixth nationally, Southern Maine extended its current winning streak
to eight games and improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the league, while Keene
State fell to 5-5 and 1-1. The teams return to action on Tuesday night, when
Southern Maine entertains Rhode Island College and Keene State resumes its three-
game home stand by hosting Western Connecticut State University.
After entering the break with a narrow, 34-31 advantage, Southern Maine
opened the second half with a 13-5 run, capped by a free throw from sophomore
Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) to forge a 47-36 advantage with 11:53 remaining.
Keene State cut the deficit to single digits for the final time at 47-38 on a pair
of free throws from sophomore Stacey Morse (Lebanon, N.H.) with 11:40 remaining.
However, sophomore guard Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine) hit a lay-up and
foul shot to culminate a 12-2 run and give the Huskies a commanding 59-40
advantage with 7:31 to play. The Owls halted the scoring drought on a lay-up from
sophomore center Shreve Davis (Henniker, N.H.) to pull within 59-42 with 7:10 to
play. Keene State would not score another basket the rest of the way, and added
only one free throw freshman forward Caitlin Jamiel (Cranston, R.I.) with 21
seconds remaining.
Southern Maine trailed throughout much of the opening half, and faced its
largest deficit at 28-21 on a three-pointer by freshman guard Kristin Karat
(Enfield, Conn.) with 4:56 remaining. However, the Huskies responded with an 11-0
run, capped by a running jumper in the lane from sophomore Megan Myles (Turner,
Maine), to build a 32-28 lead with 1:59 remaining.
Jones contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while Myles added 14 points,
nine boards and six assists for the Huskies. Karat led the Owls with 12 points on
four three pointers, while Morse added 10 points.
##################################################################################
Thursday, January 8, 2004
(Courtesy of UNE Sports Information)
HUSKIES CRUSH NOR'EASTERS EARLY; CRUISE TO VICTORY
Marble nets a career-high 17 points to lead USM attack
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies started the
game with a 43-7 barrage over the opening 13:40 and cruised to a 74-36 non-
conference victory over the University of New England on Thursday evening at the
Campus Center.
The Huskies won their seventh game in a row to improve to 10-1. They will
travel to Keene State College on Saturday for a Little East Conference game.
The Nor'easters, who will host Nichols College in a Commonwealth Coast
Conference tilt the same day, fell to 2-5.
Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) played a fabulous all-around
game for the nationally-ranked Huskies (No. 6), scoring a career-high 17 points,
grabbing 12 rebounds and grabbing six steals. Marble scored 15 points in the
first half as Southern Maine seized a 54-15 advantage.
The Huskies went to their bench liberally in the second half, with no
player seeing more than 24 minutes of playing time for the game. USM shot 54.2
percent (13 for 24) over the final 20 minutes.
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) had 14 points for the Huskies
and senior Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine) added 12.
A suffocating Husky defense limited UNE to just 19.2 percent (5 of 26)
shooting in the first half and 25 percent (13 of 52) for the game.
Sophomore Essie McKinnon (South Portland, Maine) and senior Missy Stults
(Goshen, Ind.) each scored eight points for the Nor'easters, who were plagued by
30 turnovers.
##################################################################################
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Southern Maine Runs Away From Colby College 78-42
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) scored a game-high 16
points to pace four Huskies in double figures and the University of Southern Maine
sandwiched a 29-6 run around the halftime break to post a convincing 78-42 triumph
over the visiting Colby College White Mules in non-league action on Tuesday
evening at the Hill Gym.
Southern Maine improved to 9-1 overall and will return to action on Thursday
when it visits the University of New England, while Colby will take a 5-5 mark
into Thursday's home date with Bates.
A three-pointer from sophomore Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) gave the Huskies
the lead for good at 18-16 with 6:52 remaining in the first half, and ignited an
18-6 run to close out the opening stanza. Southern Maine entered the break holding
a 33-22 lead.
The Huskies scored the first 11 points of the second half, culminating on a
pair of free throws from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) to build a
commanding 44-22 advantage with 14:43 remaining.
Colby College closed the deficit to 19 points at 53-34 on a short jumper by
sophomore Sarah Kelly (Portsmouth, N.H.) with 8:52 to play. However, the White
Mules would pull no closer the remainder of the contest.
A twisting layup by sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine) with 28
seconds to play gave the Huskies their largest lead and accounted for the 78-42
final score.
Southern Maine also received 14 points from senior captain Meg Cressler
(Camden, Maine), while freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) and Jones added 11
apiece.
Kelly led the White Mules with 11 points.
##################################################################################
Monday, January 5, 2004
USM's Meg Cressler Earns Two Individual Awards
Huskies Extend Winning Streak to Five, Improve to 8-1
GORHAM, Maine - University of Southern Maine senior guard Meg Cressler
(Camden, Maine) earned a pair of individual honors after scoring her 1,000 career
point to lead the Huskies to a 2-0 slate at last week's Grand Canyon Classic in
Phoenix, Ariz.
Cressler, who averaged 14.5 points on 11-22 (.500) shooting, 9.5 rebounds and
4.0 assists, was named the Little East Conference Player of the Week and received
Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. Her efforts enabled the Huskies to
record a 76-52 win over Gordon College in the opening round and an 81-71 triumph
over the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the second round.
In the win over Gordon, Cressler showcased her all-around game by tallying 10
points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals. She registered
her first double-double of the season against Wisconsin-Stout, when she tossed in
19 points and hauled down 12 rebounds.
The 10 points against Gordon improved her career total to exactly 1,000
points, as she became only the 14th player in program history to reach this
milestone. Cressler is also approaching an additional pair of significant
milestones. She needs just 20 rebounds to become the eighth player in school
history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, while she needs 62 assists to
become the second player in school history to add 300 assists to these scoring and
rebounding totals.
Through nine games, Cressler is currently third on the team in scoring (8.9
ppg), while she is second in rebound (6.7 rpg), and she leads the club with 26
assists. Her efforts have led the Huskies to five consecutive wins, an overall
record of 8-1 and a conference slate of 2-0. In the most recent D3Hoops.com
national poll, Southern Maine is currently ranked eighth. The Huskies' only loss
came at the hands of Bowdoin College, which is currently ranked fourth.
Southern Maine returns to action tomorrow evening at 5:30 pm, when it plays
host to the Colby College White Mules.
##################################################################################
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Southern Maine Holds Off Wisconsin-Stout, 81-71
Tiffany Jones Scores Game High 22 Points
Meg Cressler Adds 19 Points and 12 Rebounds
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game and season-high 22 points and senior forward Meg Cressler (Camden, Maine)
tallied a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the University of
Southern Maine Huskies to an 81-71 triumph over the University of Wisconsin Stout
on Wednesday afternoon at the Grand Canyon Classic.
Triumphant in five consecutive outings, Southern Maine will bring an 8-1
overall mark into next Tuesday night's home game with Colby College. Wisconsin-
Stout, which fell to 7-4, will travel to Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Saturday.
Southern Maine used on overpowering inside game in the first half to build a
commanding 45-26 advantage at the break. The Huskies connected on 14-of-21 (.667)
first half free throws, while the Blue Devils were awarded but 11 first half free
throws, of which they connected on seven (.636). Southern Maine also connected on
15-32 (.469) field goals, while limiting Wisconsin-Stout to nine field goals on 27
attempts (.333) in the opening frame.
The Blue Devils outscored the Huskies by nine points (45-36) in the second
half to account for the 81-71 final score.
Southern Maine also received strong efforts from its reserves, as sophomore
forward Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine) came off the bench to contribute 11
points, including six-of-six from the foul line, and sophomore Ashley Marble
(Topsfield, Maine) added eight rebounds and eight points.
The Blue Devils were paced by Senior Laura Verdegan (Tony, Wis.), who tallied
14 points and 11 boards, while Sophomore Steffanie Nemitz (Bloomington, Wis.)
added 11 points and junior Lindsey Erichsen (Spring Valley, Minn.) contributed 10
points and eight rebounds.
##################################################################################
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Southern Maine Breezes Past Gordon, 76-52
Meg Cressler Scores 1000th Career Point
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 17 points and senior forward Meg Cressler (Camden, Maine) added 10
points to improve her career scoring total to exactly 1,000 points, as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to a 76-52 triumph over the Gordon
College Fighting Scots in the first game for each school at the two-game Grand
Canyon Classic.
The triumph was the fourth straight for Southern Maine, which improved to 7-1
overall, while Gordon College slipped to 4-3. The teams return to action tomorrow
at noon, when Southern Maine plays Wisconsin-Stout and Gordon meets Keene State.
Cressler, who became the 14th player in school history to score 1,000 points,
added seven caroms to improve her career total to 468 rebounds. She needs 32 more
rebounds to become the eighth player in school history with 1,000 points and 500
rebounds.
Southern Maine slowly pulled away throughout the opening 20 minutes and took
a 43-26 lead into the break. The Huskies increased their advantage by seven points
in the second half to account for the 24-point margin of victory.
Sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine) added 10 points and sophomore
Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) collected a game-high 10 rebounds to help lead
the Huskies to a decided, 54-29 advantage on the boards.
The Fighting Scots received 16 points from junior Sarah DeLuca (Gray, Maine)
and 11 points from junior Genny McWhorter (Argyle, N.Y.).
##################################################################################
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Southern Maine Overturns Western Connecticut, 79-43
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) scored a career-
high 12 points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies played a tenacious
defense, which resulted in 43 turnovers en route to an easy 79-43 triumph over the
visiting Western Connecticut State University Colonials in Little East Conference
action on Saturday afternoon at the Hill Gym.
Triumphant in three straight, Southern Maine improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0
in the conference. The Huskies will play next on Tuesday, December 30, when they
face Gordon College at the Grand Canyon Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. Western
Connecticut, which fell to 3-4 and 1-1, will entertain Westfield State College on
Tuesday.
Southern Maine put the game out of reach with a 22-0 run midway through the
first half. Marble ignited the run with a lay up to give the Huskies a 16-7
advantage at 13:46, and sophomore Donna Cowing (Weeks, Mills, Maine) concluded the
stretch with a free throw to increase the lead to 36-7 with 5:35 remaining in the
half.
Western Connecticut pulled to within 39-16 on a short jumper by freshman
Mallory Sevens (Seymour, Conn.), before the Huskies closed out the frame with a
5-0 run to forge a 44-16 lead at the break.
The Huskies opened the second half with a 17-3 run, culminating on a lay up
from sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) to grab their largest lead of the
game at 61-19 with 13:54 remaining.
Western Connecticut responded with a 12-1 run, which featured five
consecutive points from freshman Jennifer Ficarotta (Yonkers, N.Y.) to pull within
62-31 with 9:19 to play. However, the Colonials would close the deficit no
further.
Western Connecticut was led by Ficarotta, who tallied 11 points, while
Stevens contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Huskies received 11 points each from Jones and senior Jen Webster
(Braintree, Mass.), while freshman Marybeth Pariseau (South Burlington, Vt.) and
sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) had nine apiece.
##################################################################################
Monday, December 8, 2003
Southern Maine Handles Tufts, 67-45
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 17 points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies jumped to a 20-
point halftime lead en route to a 67-44 triumph over the visiting Tufts University
Jumbos in non-conference action at the Hill Gym on Tuesday evening.
Southern Maine improved to 5-1 overall and will play its final game before
the 17-day exam break on Saturday when it entertains Western Connecticut. Tufts
slipped to 4-2 and will be idle until traveling to Fitchburg State College on
January 10.
The 44 points was a season-low for Tufts, which entered the game averaging
85.0 points. Prior to tonight, Tufts' lowest offensive total came in a 77-73 loss
at Montclair state on November 23. For the game, Tufts made just 16-64 field goal
attempts, for a .250 shooting percentage, which also is well below their season
average entering the contest (458).
The Huskies won the contest in the first half, when they opened the game with
a 9-0 run, held the Jumbos to just three field goals on 33 attempts for a .091
shooting percentage, and took a 33-13 advantage at the break.
Senior forward Erin Buckley (East Sandwich, Mass.) scored the Jumbos first
points of the game on a pair of free throws with 13:43 to play in the contest.
Southern Maine answered with a 6-0 run to build a 15-2 advantage with 12:37
remaining, before Tufts' scored its first basket of the evening on a lay up from
freshman guard Jenny Muller (Andover, Mass.) to trim the deficit to 15-4 with
12:12 to play.
Tufts would pull no closer the remainder of the night. Southern Maine built
its lead to 20 points at 31-11 on a pair of free throws from freshman Katie Sibley
(Boothbay, Maine) with 1:30 remaining in the half.
Following the break, Tufts pulled within 16 points on two occasions, with the
final time coming at 47-31 on a free throw from senior forward Kate Gluckman
(Morrisville, Vt.) with 8:48 remaining. Southern Maine took its largest advantage
at 67-40 on a pair of free throws from freshman guard Lindsey Welch (Newport,
Maine) with 42 seconds to play.
The Huskies also received 11 points, nine boards and three assists from
senior Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine) and 10 points from Webster.
The Jumbos were led by Buckley, who recorded a team-high 11 points and a
game-high 11 rebounds.
##################################################################################
Saturday, December 6, 2003
#10 Southern Maine Holds Off #1 Eastern Connecticut, 73-59
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Sophomore forward Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward
Little HS) scored 10 of her team-high 14 points over the final 8:22 to help the
University of Southern Maine Huskies defeat the Eastern Connecticut State
University Warriors 73-59 in a battle between nationally-ranked teams Saturday
afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium. The contest was the Little East Conference
opener for both teams.
Southern Maine (4-1, 1-0 LEC), ranked #10 in this week’s d3hoops.com poll,
was coming off a 59-52 loss against fourth-ranked Bowdoin on Tuesday having to
face the top-ranked Warriors on the road. Eastern Connecticut (4-1, 0-1 LEC),
the NCAA Division III runner-up last season, came into the game undefeated and
having won 43 of its last 44 home games.
Trailing by 14 (38-24) at halftime, the Warriors, sparked by senior All-
American Allison Coleman (Jewett City, Conn.), came all the way back to take a
one-point lead (48-47) on Coleman’s free throw with 9:11 remaining.
Myles regained the lead for good for the Huskies less than a minute later
when she buried a three-point shot from the corner to ignite a 12-4 run over a
five-minute span that gave USM a 59-52 edge with 3:25 left. USM outscored
Eastern 14-7 down the stretch to pull away.
Southern Maine took control of the game early in the first half with a 10-0
run to take a 14-6 lead. Three-point baskets from sophomores Tiffany Jones
(Skowhegan, Maine) and Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) were followed by a pair of
free throws by Myles and a basket from freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine).
The Huskies pushed the lead to as many as 19 on two occasions, the last at
37-18 when freshman Lauren Samuelson (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug HS) converted
both ends of a one-and-one situation, before settling for a 38-24 advantage at
the half.
Southern Maine had a balanced offensive attack with four players in double
figures. Jones finished with 11 points while Sibley and sophomore Ashley Marble
(Topsfield, Maine/Woodland HS) came off the bench to toss in 11 each. Seniors
Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine/Camden-Rockport HS) and Jen Webster (Braintree,
Mass.) each had nine points.
Coleman, who became the leading scorer in ECSU history (men or women), was
held to two points in the first half. The 5-foot-10 guard exploded in the
second half, scoring 18 of the Warriors’ first 24 points, and finished the game
with 27 points and a team high eight rebounds.
Freshman Sandy Mosley (Goshen, Conn.) and junior Jen Bergeron (Jericho,
Vt.) were the only other Warriors to reach double figures, finishing with 13 and
10 points, respectively.
Southern Maine got a big contribution from its bench. The Huskies’
reserves outscored the ECSU subs, 27-4, for the game, including a 21-2 edge in
the first half.
USM returns to action Monday night when its hosts Tufts University at the
Hill Gym. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Eastern Connecticut will host Clark
University on Thursday (December 11).
##################################################################################
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Bowdoin College Overcomes Southern Maine, 59-52
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Vanessa Russell (Tewskbury, Mass.) and junior
forward Erika Nickerson (Benton, Maine) scored 14 points apiece and the Bowdoin
College Polar Bears outscored the host University of Southern Maine Huskies by a
12-3 margin over the final 8:33 to post a 59-52 triumph in non-conference action
on Tuesday night at the Hill Gym.
The teams return to action on Saturday, when Bowdoin College will take a 4-0
record into its home contest with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, while Southern
Maine will take a 3-1 mark to Eastern Connecticut.
A single free throw from sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) gave the
Huskies their final lead at 49-46 with 8:33 remaining. However, Bowdoin responded
with a 10-0 run, beginning with a layup from Nickerson and concluding with a pair
of free throws from Nickerson, to forge a 56-49 lead with 47 seconds remaining.
The Polar Bears took the lead for good at 50-49 on a layup from sophomore Justine
Pouravelis (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) with 4:54 to play.
A three pointer from sophomore Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) pulled the Huskies
to within 56-52 with 34 seconds remaining.
Russell drained a pair of free throws to give Bowdoin a 58-52 lead with 28
seconds left, while junior guard Alison Smith (Stockton Springs, ME) added a
single free throw with seven seconds remaining to account for the 59-52 final.
Bowdoin additionally received 12 points and nine rebounds from Pouravelis and
eight points, five rebounds and five assists from senior Lora Trenkle (Surry,
Maine).
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) led all players with 16 points and
senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) added 13 points and seven boards for the
Huskies.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
USM Runs Past Bates 84-61; Fifield Wins 400th Game
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies had four players
in double figures, led by sophomore forward Megan Myles (Turner, Maine/Edward
Little HS) with 16, to defeat the Bates College Bobcats 84-61 in a non-conference
game Tuesday night at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium. The win was the 400th in the
17-year collegiate coaching career for USM head coach Gary Fifield.
Southern Maine remained perfect on the season at 3-0. Bates dropped its
second straight to fall to 1-2 on the season.
Fifield, who came to USM in 1987, upped his career record to 400-72 (.847 W-L
pct.) with the victory. The University of Vermont graduate has led the Huskies to
20-or-more wins in each of his first 16 seasons, and the last seven Little East
Conference championships.
The Huskies exploded to an 11-point lead (15-4) on Myles' three-point field
goal just three-and-a-half minutes into the game. All five USM starters scored in
the opening salvo.
The margin moved between 11-16 points over the next six minutes until the
Huskies put together a 16-2 run over a four-minute span to blow the game open.
Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.) had six points and senior guard Meg
Cressler (Appleton, Maine/Camden-Rockport HS) had four points during the run.
Myles went to work down low to score six points in the final two minutes of
the half to give the Huskies a 54-27 advantage at the break. Southern Maine shot
60 percent (18 for 30) from the floor in the opening half while containing Bates
to just 31.4% shooting (11 for 35),
Myles finished the game making 7 of 13 shots, including a three-pointer, and
a free throw for her 16 points. Webster finished the night with 14 points and a
team-high eight rebounds. Freshman guard Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) came off
the bench to toss in 13 while sophomore forward Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine)
added 12 points.
Freshman center Meg Coffin (Westford, Mass.) came off the bench to lead the
Bobcats with 16 points to share game-high honors with Myles. Freshman Jackie
Olson (Norfolk, Va.) was the only other Bates' player in double figures with 10
points.
Southern Maine will be off until next Tuesday (December 2) when its hosts
Bowdoin College starting at 5:30 p.m. Bates will host Salem State College in its
next action on Monday (December 1).
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Sunday, November 23, 2003
USM Rolls Past UMF to Win Webber Energy Tournament
Webster Named Tournament MVP
FARMINGTON, Maine -- Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.)
scored a team-high 15 points to pace five players in double figures as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies cruised to an 89-54 victory over the
University of Maine at Farmington Beavers in the championship game of the
season-opening Webber Energy Tournament.
The Huskies improved to 2-0 and will host the Bates College Bobcats in
their home opener Tuesday evening (5:30 p.m.). UMF slips to 1-1 and entertains
St. Joseph’s College on Tuesday.
In the consolation game, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy defeated the
University of Maine Presque Isle 64-35.
The Huskies never trailed in the game as Webster had nine of her 15 points
in the opening eight minutes giving USM a 20-7 advantage. The Huskies pushed
the lead to as many as 26 points (39-13) before settling for a 48-26 margin at
the break. Southern Maine’s defense held the Beavers to eight field goals and
31% shooting (8 for 26) in the opening half.
UMF cut the margin to 19 (49-30) in the opening minutes of the second half
before the Huskies went on a 14-0 run ignited by a pair of baskets by sophomore
forward Megan Myles (Turner, Maine) and capped off by five points from sophomore
guard Katie Frost (Calais, Maine).
Webster also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, dished out four assists,
made three steals and had two blocks to capture tournament MVP honors.
Sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) added 12 points while senior
Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine), who was also named to the all-tournament team,
finished with 11. Frost and sophomore guard Donna Cowing (Weeks Mills, Maine)
each chipped in 10.
UMF freshman forward Kari Simpson (Wells, Maine) led all scorers with 17
points, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Simpson and freshman guard Karen Sirois
(Augusta, Maine) were named to the all-tournament team.
Rounding out the all-tournament team were Erica McGary of UMPI and Kira
Peterson of Coast Guard.
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Saturday, November 22, 2003
Southern Maine Sinks Coast Guard 66-28
FARMINGTON, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies held the
United States Coast Guard Academy to just nine points in the opening half en
route to a 66-28 victory Saturday night in the season-opening game for both
teams in the first round of the Webber Energy Tournament at the University of
Maine at Farmington.
The win moves Southern Maine into the championship game against the
University of Maine at Farmington, a 67-29 winner over the University of Maine
at Presque Isle, Sunday afternoon starting at 2:00 p.m. Coast Guard will meet
UMPI in the consolation game beginning at noon.
The Huskies limited Coast Guard to just 3 of 27 shooting (11.1%) from the
floor in the opening 20 minutes to race to a 36-9 lead at halftime. USM trailed
by one (7-6) when sophomore guard Katie Frost (Calais, Maine) made a layup that
ignited a 20-0 run over a ten minute span to give the Huskies a 26-7 lead with
5:35 remaining in the half. After a basket by CG junior Lis Bosma (Potomac
Falls, Va.) broke the Huskies’ run, USM scored the final 10 points of the half.
Southern Maine opened the second half with a 9-2 run to push the margin to
34 (45-11) with 15 minutes to play, and never looked back. The Huskies’ biggest
margin was 39 (64-25) with a minute to play.
Frost and freshman guard Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) led the Huskies’
onslaught with 11 points each. Senior forward Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.)
added 10 points for USM as 12 of the Huskies’ 14 players contributed points.
USM dominated the boards, outrebounding Coast Guard 56-24. Senior Meg Cressler
(Appleton, Maine) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Huskies.
Junior guard Amy Harmel (Davidson, Md.) was the lone Coast Guard player to
reach double figures finishing with a game-high 13 points.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 39.4% from the floor (26 for 66)
while Coast Guard ended the contest shooting 20.0% (10 for 50).
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Thursday, November 13, 2003
Meg Cressler Named Captain of the USM Women's Basketball Team
GORHAM, Maine - Senior guard Meg Cressler (Appleton, Maine/Camden-Rockport HS),
a two-time All-Little East Conference second team selection, has been named
captain of the University of Southern Maine women's basketball team for the 2003-
2004 campaign.
"During the course of her first three years, Meg has quietly emerged as one of
the conference's elite all-around players," praised head coach Gary Fifield.
"Each year she has continually expanded her role with the team by accepting
greater responsibilities. This year, we are asking her to serve as our team
captain, and I am confident that she will help lead us to a successful season."
A two-year starter, the 5-foot-8 Cressler has demonstrated remarkable growth
throughout her career. As a sophomore, Cressler led the team in scoring with 13.6
points a game. A highly competitive player who thrives in the big games, Cressler
earned the Most Outstanding Player award in the 2002 Little East championship
tournament after tallying a career-high 24 points in the title game to lead
Southern Maine to a 73-61 win over Eastern Connecticut.
A year ago, Cressler began to showcase her all-around talents. She finished
second on the club in scoring with 11.4 points per game, but led the team in
rebounds (7.0 per game) and assists (3.52 per game).
She enters her final year with career totals of 939 points, 420 rebounds and
212 assists. During her senior season, she is expected to become only the 14th
player in program history to score 1,000 points. She could become only the eighth
player to score 1,000 points and collect 500 rebounds, and only the second player
to add 300 assists to these totals.
Her diverse skills have helped the program capture three consecutive conference
tournament crowns and compile a three-year mark of 71-14 (.835). A year ago, the
Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16", before finishing the year with
a 26-4 record.
"Meg is well aware of our program's rich tradition of success," said Fifield.
"She has played an active role in our accomplishments over the past three years,
and she is determined to add to our success during her final season."
Cressler will oversee the development of a talented, but young, 14-member
roster, comprised of five returning players and nine new faces. Although the
roster boasts considerable individual skill, the key to the success of this year's
team could be how quickly the individual components come together to play as a
team.
"We will rely on Meg's leadership to guide us through this process" said
Fifield. "Not many college seniors can handle this function as the sole team
captain, but not many college seniors possess the maturity and talent of Meg
Cressler."
The Huskies open their 2003-2004 schedule November 22-23 when they participate
in the University of Maine at Farmington's Tip-Off Tournament. Southern Maine
will play the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the first round while UMF tangles with
UMaine Presque Isle in the other semifinal. USM plays its home opener on November
25 (5:30 p.m.) when Bates College visits the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The remainder of the Huskies' 2003-04 schedule is as follows: Dec. 2, Bowdoin
(5:30 p.m.); Dec. 6, at Eastern Connecticut (1:00 p.m.); Dec. 10, Tufts (7:00);
Dec. 13, Western Connecticut (1:00); and Dec. 30-31, at the Grand Canyon Classic
in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ten games make up the slate in January: Jan. 6, Colby (5:30); Jan. 8, at the
University of New England (5:30); Jan. 10, at Keene State (1:00); Jan. 13, Rhode
Island College (5:30); Jan. 15, at Salem State (7:00); Jan. 17, at UMass
Dartmouth (1:00); Jan. 20, at UMass Boston (5:30); Jan. 24, Eastern Connecticut
(1:00); Jan 27, Plymouth State (5:30); and Jan. 31, at Western Connecticut
(1:00).
The final month of the schedule includes Feb. 4, at St. Joseph's (5:30); Feb.
7, Keene State (1:00); Feb. 10, UMass Boston (5:30); Feb. 14, at Rhode Island
College (1:00); Feb. 17, at Plymouth State (5:30); and Feb. 21, UMass Dartmouth
(1:00).
The Little East Conference tournament begins February 24 with quarterfinal
round games. The semifinals and finals will be held February 27-28 with the
champion receiving an automatic berth into the 2004 NCAA Division III national
championship tournament.
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Thursday, November 6, 2003
USM Women's Basketball to Host St. Francis Xavier
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies women's
basketball team will open its 2003-2004 season with an exhibition game this Sunday
(November 9) against St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, Nova Scotia) at
the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium on the Gorham campus. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.
The Huskies will open the regular season in two weeks when they travel to
Farmington, Maine, to take part in the University of Maine Farmington Tip-Off
Tournament. In the opening round on Saturday, November 22, the Huskies will take
on the United State Coast Guard Academy in the second game of a doubleheader at
8:00 p.m. UMF will play the University of Maine Presque Isle in the other first
round game. The championship and third place games will be on Sunday, November
23, at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Southern Maine will play its regular season home opener on Tuesday, November
25, against Bates College starting at 5:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, September 10, 2003
USM Names Women's Basketball Assistant Coaches
GORHAM, Maine -- University of Southern Maine head women's basketball coach
Gary Fifield announced his assistant coaches for the upcoming 2003-04 season
today.
Joining Fifield along the sidelines will be former St. Joseph's College head
coach Mike McDevitt, 2003 Colby College graduate Bianca Belcher, and former USM
standout Jessica Libby. Also joining the Huskies' staff as a volunteer assistant
coach, primarily during the preseason, will by Greely High School varsity girls'
coach Jim Seavey.
McDevitt compiled a 326-117 record in 16 seasons as the Monks' head coach.
He guided his teams to nine postseason appearances, seven NAIA tournament berths
and seven conference titles during his tenure. The Monks had 12 20-win seasons
during McDevitt's 16 years as head coach.
Belcher was a four-year member of the Colby women's basketball team. She was
the team's co-captain last winter and a second team All-NESCAC and All-State
performer. She averaged 12.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25 games, and led the
team with 109 assists.
Libby played four seasons at USM for Fifield. She averaged 8.9 points and
5.2 rebounds in 30 games last winter, and was named to the All-Little East
Conference first team. During her four-year career, Libby tallied 795 points (7.2
ppg), grabbed 424 rebounds (3.8 rpg) and passed off 276 assists in 111 games.
Seavey, who will continue as the girls' coach at Greely in addition to his
duties at USM, has compiled a 54-9 record in his three seasons at Greely,
including a Western Maine championship in 2003 and a runner-up finish in 2001. He
also has coached at Gray-New Gloucester HS, Oxford Hills HS and Edward Little HS
(Auburn, Maine).
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