HENNIKER, N.H. – The University of Maine at Farmington women's basketball team (11-15) trimmed a 17-point second half deficit down to a one possession game, but could not generate enough offense to get over the hump with a 66-55 loss at New England College (19-7) on Tuesday night in the North Atlantic Conference quarterfinal round.
The Beavers had three players tally a dozen points. Kelly Pomerleau (Turner, Maine/St. Dominic Academy) reached her 12 points with a pair of three-pointers, free throws, and assists. Meghan Smith (Boothbay, Maine/Boothbay) closed out her last collegiate game with a double-double as the senior netted 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Kennadi Grover (Cushing, Maine/Oceanside) had her jump shot working as the junior added 12 points and five rebounds. Bridget Humphrey (Jefferson, Maine/Erskine Academy) had a solid outing with ten points and six rebounds.
New England College had two starters lead the way with 15 points. Tiffany Davis recorded a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Breana Ramirez was only a rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Marjani Lillard contributed 11 points to the Pilgrims' offense.
UMF only trailed, 26-24, at the break but NEC came out of the locker room with all of the momentum. The Pilgrims outscored the Beavers, 24-15, in the third quarter and pushed their lead to 17 points midway through the period.
The Beavers' momentum quickly changed and shots started to fall in the paint. UMF cut the margin down to 11 at the start of the fourth quarter, but continued to put pressure on the Pilgrims. Smith banked in a layup at 7:32 to draw within one possession, 50-47.
NEC controlled the tempo for the remainder of the game by outscoring UMF, 16-7, down the stretch to advance to the NAC semifinal round on Friday.
Smith wraps up her career in maroon and white with 972 career points, which ranks 16th all-time.