GORHAM, Maine - The University of Southern Maine
women's basketball team combined a balanced offense with a stifling
defense Tuesday night to cruise to a 75-37 victory over Plymouth
State University in a Little East Conference women's basketball
game at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.
The win was the third straight for the 12th-ranked Huskies who
improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the conference. The win
also clinched at least a share of the LEC regular season title for
the Huskies, and the top seed in the upcoming LEC tournament that
starts next week. The Huskies have won or shared the LEC
regular season title 20 times in the 22-year history of the
conference. The Panthers fall to 10-14 overall and 3-10 in
the conference.
Southern Maine received offensive contributions from all 12 players
who dressed for the game. Freshman Kaylie DeMillo (Jay,
Maine) paced the attack with 11 points, and junior Stacey Kent
(Northwood, N.H.) added 10. Seven other players chipped in
five or more points. DeMillo also grabbed a season-high six
rebounds and dished out a game-high six assists.
At the defensive end, the Huskies held the Panthers to an ice-cold
26 percent shooting percent (13 for 50) from the field and forced
30 turnovers. No Plymouth State player reached double figures
in scoring as junior Kayla Morin (Pascoag, R.I.)
led the team with nine points, all coming on three-point baskets.
Leading 8-7 three minutes into the contest, the Huskies went on a
16-0 run over a span of 12 minutes to open a comfortable 17-point
advantage. Kent and senior Josalee Danieli (New Gloucester,
Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) each had five points during the surge.
Morin's first three-pointer snapped the Huskies' run and pulled PSU
back within 14, but the visitors would get no closer in the half
that ended with USM holding a 32-14 lead. The Panthers shot
just 23.1 percent (6 for 26) and committed 18 turnovers in the
opening 20 minutes.
The Huskies methodically stretched out the lead in the second half,
shooting 48 percent (14 for 29) from the floor while holding the
Panthers to 23 points. The Huskies scored the first seven
points of the half to push the lead to 25 with 18 minutes to play.
Senior Lauren Daniels (Concord, N.H.) of Plymouth
State led all rebounders grabbing 12 caroms. PSU out
rebounded USM, 38-34, for the game.
The Huskies close the regular season this Saturday (1:00 p.m.)
traveling to Western Connecticut State University for a showdown
with the Colonials (19-4, 11-2). The Panthers finished the
regular season Saturday (1:00 p.m.) with a road game at the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (6-18, 2-11).
(Courtesy of Southern Maine Sports Information)
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