AUGUSTA, Maine- Catherine Sanborn hit a three pointer with 3.9 seconds left Thursday night, leading the University of Maine-Augusta women’s basketball team to a come from behind 77-76 win over New Hampshire Technical Institute at the Augusta Civic Center in Yankee Small Conference College action.
NHTI (12-12, 8-8 YSCC) had as much as a seven point lead in the opening quarter that they later extended to 31-21 in the second. Sydney Leblanc gave UMA the lead with a three pointer that was part of a 15-4 run to make it 36-35 with 1:01 left before the break. The game was tied at halftime at 37-37.
The Moose took an early five point lead in the third quarter with the first five points of the stanza, before a 14-2 run by the Lynx made it 51-44 in favor of the guests. NHTI held a 60-57 lead headed to the final 10 minutes. Sidney Moore who had a fantastic game and was the game high scorer put the hosts back ahead with two free throws with 5:33 to play at 65-64. Seven straight by NHTI though made it 71-65 Lynx. UMA (10-14, 8-8) fought back to tie it 71-71 on an Emily Billings layup, and then took a 74-71 lead on a Moore three pointer with 1:48 left. A Michaella Biron layup with 48 seconds remaining made it 75-74 Lynx. With the score remaining the same, Olivia Langevin went to the line for two shots with 14.5 seconds left. Langevin missed the first but made the second to make it 76-74 NHTI. On the other end Moore was double teamed, and passed off to a wide open Sanborn at the top of the key who nailed the three pointer from about a foot behind the line in the waining seconds. A half court heave by NHTI went over the back board on the final attempt as the buzzer sounded.
Moore finished with 34 points and nine rebounds, including 9-20 from floor (5-7 three point range) and 11-11 from the foul line. Billings added 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Kate Stevens also chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds. UMA shot 41 percent from the floor, including 10-19 from the three point arc and 15-20 from the foul line. Langevin had 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for NHTI. Biron had 15 points and eight rebounds, while Melissa Martel scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds. The Lynx shot 38 percent from the floor, 5-24 from the three point line and 13-21 from the foul line.
UMA will now get set for the YSCC quarterfinals on Saturday, February 16. A time and opponent will be decided after the conference regular season ends this weekend.
