The Husson Eagles women’s basketball team opened their 2018-19 season on Monday night, and after building a 17 point second quarter lead the hosts needed to hold off a furious comeback by CMCC for a 59-53 non-conference win at Newman Gym in Bangor.
Husson (1-0) came out of a tight first quarter with an 11-9 lead. The Eagles then extended to their biggest lead of the entire contest at 30-13 when freshman Emily Wheaton knocked down a three pointer late in the second quarter. The home team led 32-18 at intermission. A layup by Natalie Thurber with 3:28 left in the third allowed the Lady Mustangs to cut the deficit to 36-30. A 10-4 run though by Husson to end the third made it 46-34 headed to the final 10 minutes of action. After the Eagles increased the lead twice to 13 points twice early in the fourth, CMCC made their final push. Two free throws from Thurber helped cap off a 13-2 surge by the visitors to make it 51-49 with 2:53 remaining. Four turnovers though down the stretch killed the Mustangs, coupled with free throws from Kenzie Worcester and Barrett Campbell, along with jumpers by Campbell and Lexi Ireland to help ice away the opening night win. CMCC loses their first game of the season (6-1), playing out of the Yankee Small College Conference. Both teams had 28 turnovers in the game.
Ireland led Husson with 11 points and six rebounds. Worcester filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one blocked shot. Campbell and Wheaton had eight points a piece. Alex Bessey led CMCC with 14 points. Thurber added 11, while Jordyn Reynolds and Eraleena Gethers-Hal had 10 a piece. The Eagles will travel to Massachusetts on Friday to compete in the Brandeis University Tip-Off Tournament, facing Western Connecticut State at 7 pm.
The Husson men’s basketball team also started their season 1-0 with an 86-59 home win over Pine Manor on Saturday, led by 18 points from DJ Bussey. The Eagle men play in Biddeford Friday in the Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament when they face Trinity (Conn.) at 7:30 pm.
