Bangor,ME- The Husson women’s basketball team overcame cold shooting, foul trouble, and a stifling Mariners defense to defeat Maine Maritime Academy 52-49 Tuesday night at the Newman Gymnasium with a layup from Bailey Donovan with 4.6 seconds left.
It was a back and forth low scoring first quarter as both teams struggled to find some offense. The first basket of the game was not scored until nearly two and a half minutes in when Donovan hit a jump shot to open the scoring. The Eagles eventually found the net and would lead 13-9 at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
The Mariners would not go away as Hussons shots would not fall the majority of the second quarter, paving the way for an 8-0 run which lasted the majority of the quarter. Husson wouldn’t score their first points of the quarter until there was 2:10 remaining. The Eagles would only score four points in total and MMA would lead 21-17 at halftime.
The offensive struggles would continue for Husson as the Mariners continued to open up a gap, opening up the biggest lead by either team 26-17. A malfunction with the shot clock buzzer would stop the game for nearly five minutes mid way through the third quarter, and it was the break the Eagles needed as they would go on a 13-4 run to end the period and tie the game 30-30 headed to the fourth.
The offensive struggles went away in the final quarter as the lead was swapped back and forth for the majority of the final ten minutes of play. The Eagles looked to start to pull away with 1:27 to go when they took a 48-44 lead, but the Mariners got a three point basket from Samantha Mason with 1:13 left to cut the lead to one point. Joan Overman would make one out of two free throws to give the Eagles a 49-47 lead with 58 seconds showing on the clock. An empty possession and a stop from the Mariners defense gave them a chance. With seven seconds left, Sami Ireland fouled out and Lauren Plissey hit two free throws to tie the game 49-49. A Husson timeout would give them the ball on the sideline in the front court. Vanessa Duarte lobbed a pass over a defender and right to Donovan who laid a shot off the glass through a foul. Donovan completed the three point play. A half court heave at the buzzer was wide left off the backboard.
Donovan had a game high 21 points and 13 rebounds, Megan Peach added 14 points, and Sydney Allen contributed nine points in the win.
MMA was led by Plissey with 17 points and 16 rebounds, and Samantha Mason added seven points.
Husson finishes the regular season 17-8 overall and a perfect 14-0 in the North Atlantic Conference, good enough for the #1 seed and the right to host the NAC Tournament for the second straight year. The Eagles will play the winner of a #5 VS #4 NAC quarterfinal next Friday night on February 28th in the NAC semifinals at Husson, time TBA.
MMA finishes the regular season 20-5 overall and 12-2 in NAC play and finish second in the conference. They will play the winner of a #6 VS #3 NAC Quarterfinal next Friday night February 28th in the NAC semifinals at Husson University, time TBA.
