CASTINE, Maine – Elms College junior forward Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) netted a team-high eight points but Maine Maritime Academy's Jessica Stahl (Bowdoin, Maine) led a balanced scoring attack with a game-high 11 points to help pace the Mariners to a 67-33 victory in first round action of the Maine Maritime Invitational women's basketball game at Margaret Smith Gymnasium.

With the loss, Elms falls to 2-7 on the season and will play in the consolation game at 2:00 p.m.  against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on Wednesday. Invitational host Maine Maritime improves to 4-4 overall and will compete in the championship game at 4:00 p.m.

Maine Maritime played stifling defense, holding Elms to 11 points and 13-percent shooting in the first half. The Mariners scored 33 points en route to a commanding 22-point (33-11) halftime lead.

Maine Maritime kept the pressure on holding Elms to 26-percent shooting in addition to winning the battle of the boards 48-45.

The Mariners' Sam Goda (Eliot, Maine) and Andi Flannery (East Machias, Maine) each tallied 10 points, while Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) amassed a game-best 11 rebounds.

Maggie Smith (Bath, Maine) finished with a game-high 6 assists in the winning effort.

Blazers' freshman forward Nicolette Martin (Colchester, Conn.) totaled a team-best nine rebounds while Murphy added six boards in addition to her eight points, while freshman guard Ellen Donohue (Southington, Maine) dished out three assists in the loss.