Recap
Gorham, ME — GORHAM, Maine – Elise Magro and Liz Bailey each scored 18 points to lead the Castleton University Spartans to a 57-54 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.
Facing each other for the 10th time in series history, the Castleton win evens the series at 5-5. Southern Maine defeated the Spartans 71-64 in overtime in its last meeting.
The Records:
Castleton (7-3, 1-1 LEC)
Southern Maine (2-5, 1-2 LEC)
How It Happened:
After falling behind 21-7 in the first quarter, making just three first-quarter field goals, Southern Maine found its offense and outscored the Spartans 22-13 in the second to trail 34-29 at the half. Juniors Amy Fleming (Berwick, Maine/Noble) and Tamrah Gould (Manchester, N.H.) combined for 12 of the Huskies 22 second-quarter points.
The Huskies continued its solid offensive production in the third and trailed by a single point, 46-45, headed into the fourth. Junior Franny Ramsdell (Wells, Maine) scored seven points in the third carrying the Huskies' offensive.
In the fourth, Castleton used a 7-2 run in the opening five minutes to take a 53-47 lead with 4:58 to play. Bailey and Magro hit back-to-back buckets in the run. Husky junior Ashlee Aceto (South Portland, Maine) and Fleming scored four straight on a baseline jumper and two free throws to make it a single-possession game, 53-51, with 58 seconds to play. Both teams came up empty on ensuing possessions before Kelly Vuz connected on two free throws for a 55-51 Castleton lead with seconds to play. USM freshman Emma Haskell (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) drilled a three on the Huskies next play, making it 55-54, but Magro closed it out on the line for the 57-54 final.
Inside The Stats:
Ramsdell led three Huskies in double-digits with 12 points and seven rebounds. Fleming had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, while sophomore Maria Degifico (South Portland, Maine) added 10 points and four rebounds.
Haskell finished with a career-high nine points, adding four rebounds, and a blocked shot off of the bench for USM. Gould had eight points, four rebounds, four assists and a game-high five steals.
Up Next:
Southern Maine is off for the semester break. The Huskies will travel to Las Vegas for games on December 28 and 29 versus SUNY Oneonta and Montclair State.