As the cold winter months with frigid temperatures gets ready to turn over to February in just over another week, the race for the top Eastern Division seed in the North Atlantic Conference heats up. Two schools who know that very well get ready to meet in Bangor on Saturday afternoon, as the men’s and women’s basketball teams from Husson will host their rivals from the University of Maine-Farmington.
The Husson women’s team (9-10, 7-1 North Atlantic Conference) will come into action against UMF on a two game win streak after a comeback conference victory over the top Western Division seed SUNY Cobleskill 75-70, and a runaway win over SUNY Delhi both last weekend at home. The Eagles have been led by some well known former high school standouts from Maine that include Hannah Richards (8.3 points per game, 2.6 rebounds), Lilly Roy (7.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Lauren Cook (6.9 ppg), and Saige Evans (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Jordyn Lengle also averages 6.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg. The Beavers (8-9, 5-3 NAC) top performers have been Jessica Dow (13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.7 steals, 3.7 assists) and Jaydn Pingree (10.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Husson and UMF are both chasing Maine Maritime Academy who is a perfect 8-0 at the top of the NAC Eastern Division standings.
The Husson and University of Maine-Farmington men will bring identical 7-1 league marks into their showdown at Newman Gym, tied for the top spot in the North Atlantic Conference East Division just ahead of the University of Maine-Presque Isle who is 6-1. The Eagles (12-7 overall) are coming off their first NAC loss 70-61 to SUNY Delhi at home on Sunday, before a non-conference defeat in Bangor at the hands of Colby 97-81 on Tuesday. The loss to the Broncos of SUNY Delhi snapped a 10-game win streak. Husson is being led by Riles Neff (16.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals), Jeremy Moronta (12.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.4 assists), and Scott Lewis (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.3 assists). The Beavers (10-8 overall) top performers have been Simon Chadbourne (16.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg), former Hampden Academy standout and freshman Zach McLaughlin (12.4 ppg), and Dylan Griffin (11.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.0 assists).
Husson and UMF women get the doubleheader started at 1 p.m. on Saturday from Newman Gym in Bangor, with the men to follow immediately after. The Eagles and Beavers men’s and women’s teams will meet again on the last day of the regular season on February 15 in Farmington. The top seeds from the NAC East Division get the right to host the quarterfinal and semifinal playoff round (East Division Final) taking place on Saturday and Sunday February 22 and 23. The league championship games are on Saturday, March 1 with the men’s East winner hosting the West Division winner, and the women’s East winner on the road at the West winner.
