Dec 07, 2010
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Colby College Mules made all eight of their free throw attempts over the final 1:42 to hold off the University of New England for a 58-53 non-conference women's basketball win Tuesday evening at the Campus Center.
The Mules, ranked tied for 25th nationally in the USA Today/ESPN poll, improve to 5-1 while the Nor'easters drop to 5-4.
Junior forward Rachael Mack (Augusta, Maine) and sophomore guard Diana Manduca (Portland, Maine) scored 12 points apiece to lead the way for Colby. Mack grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots while Manduca handed out four assists. Junior guard Aarika Ritchie (Lee, Maine) chipped in 11 points.
UNE junior guard Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) led all scorers with 17 points. She was 7-for-12 from the floor and added a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) scored nine points and senior guard Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) had seven points, seven boards and three steals.
After the two teams played to a 27-all tie in the first half, the Mules started the second frame on a 13-6 run to forge a 40-33 advantage with 13:09 remaining.
UNE chipped away and closed to within one on four separate occasions -- the last coming with 1:24 on the clock -- but were never able to tie or take the lead.
Colby was rock solid at the free throw line in the closing minutes as Mack knocked down two free throws and Ritchie, sophomore Jacky McLaughlin (Medfield, Mass.) and Manduca each converted both ends of one-and-ones to seal the victory.
The first half featured four ties and eight lead changes. UNE led by seven (23-16) with 4:07 left in the stanza before the Mules closed with 11-4 spurt -- capped by a Ritchie jumper as time expired -- to knot the game at 27 heading into the break.
For the game, Colby overcame 23 turnovers by holding a 38-28 cushion in the rebounding department. The visitors were also 14 of 18 (77.8 percent) from the line, compared to 65.2 percent (15 of 23) accuracy for Big Blue.
Each team has one game remaining before the holidays. Colby hosts UMaine Presque Isle (2 p.m.) on Saturday, while UNE travels to UMaine Farmington that same afternoon (1 p.m.).
The Mules, ranked tied for 25th nationally in the USA Today/ESPN poll, improve to 5-1 while the Nor'easters drop to 5-4.
Junior forward Rachael Mack (Augusta, Maine) and sophomore guard Diana Manduca (Portland, Maine) scored 12 points apiece to lead the way for Colby. Mack grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots while Manduca handed out four assists. Junior guard Aarika Ritchie (Lee, Maine) chipped in 11 points.
UNE junior guard Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) led all scorers with 17 points. She was 7-for-12 from the floor and added a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) scored nine points and senior guard Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) had seven points, seven boards and three steals.
After the two teams played to a 27-all tie in the first half, the Mules started the second frame on a 13-6 run to forge a 40-33 advantage with 13:09 remaining.
UNE chipped away and closed to within one on four separate occasions -- the last coming with 1:24 on the clock -- but were never able to tie or take the lead.
Colby was rock solid at the free throw line in the closing minutes as Mack knocked down two free throws and Ritchie, sophomore Jacky McLaughlin (Medfield, Mass.) and Manduca each converted both ends of one-and-ones to seal the victory.
The first half featured four ties and eight lead changes. UNE led by seven (23-16) with 4:07 left in the stanza before the Mules closed with 11-4 spurt -- capped by a Ritchie jumper as time expired -- to knot the game at 27 heading into the break.
For the game, Colby overcame 23 turnovers by holding a 38-28 cushion in the rebounding department. The visitors were also 14 of 18 (77.8 percent) from the line, compared to 65.2 percent (15 of 23) accuracy for Big Blue.
Each team has one game remaining before the holidays. Colby hosts UMaine Presque Isle (2 p.m.) on Saturday, while UNE travels to UMaine Farmington that same afternoon (1 p.m.).