The Husson Eagles rallied back from an eight point third quarter deficit Friday evening to stay unbeaten in North Atlantic Conference play with a 57-48 win over Maine Maritime Academy in women’s basketball action at Webster Gymnasium in Castine.
Both teams held a lead in the opening quarter with Husson holding the biggest at three points, and held a 13-10 advantage after the opening 10 minutes. Maine Maritime Academy (12-4, 4-1 NAC) scored the first four points of the second quarter to take back the lead, and then extended it to the biggest lead either team held in the first half at 23-17. The Eagles rallied to tie it at 23, but the Mariners held a 28-26 advantage at the break.
MMA went up 34-26 with the first six points of the third, before Husson went on a 14-4 run to end the quarter to take back a lead they wouldn’t give back. Vanessa Duarte capped off the run with a long three-pointer at the buzzer that found the bottom of the net to make it 40-38 Eagles. It was the only basket of the game for Duarte. Morgan Boudreau hit a three-pointer to get the Mariners within one with 4:47 to play, and later after the Eagles had gone up six Lauren Plissey hit two from the line to cut it to 51-48 with 1:49 remaining. But Husson capped off the win on a Sami Ireland jumper 20 seconds later, and Emma Alley made 4-4 from the line in the final minute as the Eagles stayed unbeaten in conference play (5-0) and are 8-7 overall.
Ireland led Husson in the win with a game high 17 points, also adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Bailey Donovan had 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Melinda Ogden led Maine Maritime in the loss with 12 points and six rebounds. Plissey finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. The loss ends a 12 game win streak for the Mariners. Husson is at SUNY-Canton for a pair of games next Friday and Saturday.
