Husson guard Kenzie Worcester (white uniform) looks to make a play during the fourth quarter of the Eagles semifinal game Friday afternoon against the New England College Pilgrims. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR- Victoria McIntyre scored 20 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Husson Lady Eagles to a 69-55 NAC semifinal win over New England College on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles built a 12 point first half lead and led 20-8 after the opening quarter. Husson still seemed to be in control with an 11 point advantage 28-17 late in the second quarter before the Pilgrims climbed back in by scoring nine of the final 13 points before halftime to make it 32-26 at the break.
After building the lead back to 11 in the third quarter at 41-30 once again New England would make a run, this time a 9-0 surge to cut the Eagles lead to 41-39. But Husson was able to do what NEC did before halftime scoring nine of the final 13 of the quarter and would lead 50-43 at the end of the third.
New England College would get no closer as Husson expanded the lead late in the fourth quarter to 16 points and 14 was the final margin of victory.
Along with the big game from McIntyre, the Eagles got 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals from freshman Kenzie Worcester and 11 points from Darla Morales.
The Pilgrims from New England College were led by Marjani Lillard who had 19 points and 10 rebounds while Utshana Durham had 14 points. NEC finishes their season with a record of 19-8.
Husson is now 20-6 and will face Castleton in the North Atlantic Conference Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Husson University’s Newman Gymnasium at 2 p.m.
In the first semifinal game of the day, the Castleton Spartans advanced to the championship game with a 69-55 win over the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners.
Four players scored in double figures as the Spartans advanced to their ninth consecutive NAC title game.
Castleton led all the way from start to finish, building a nine point halftime lead that would later bulge to 15 after three quarters and up to 19 early in the fourth. The Mariners made one more run cutting it down to 60-48 with 4:15 to play but that’s as close as they would get.
For Maine Maritime Academy, Alayne Felix had a game high 21 points and 6 rebounds with Kristi Willey had 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals. The Mariners finish up with a record of 18-9.
For Castleton, now 21-5, Jade Desroches and Bryanna Dupont each had 16 points while Amanda Beatty had 15 and Makayla Farrara had 12.
