Game Leaders
Southern Maine
Pts:
2 Players (#33, #34 - 17)
Reb:
Becky Dixon - 6
Ast:
Lauren Rousseau - 4
University of New England
Pts:
Kelley Paradis - 18
Reb:
2 Players (#04, #20 - 7)
Ast:
Margo Russell - 6
Team Stats
Southern Maine
University of New England
Field Goals
(24-56)
(23-50)
Field Goal %
42.9%
46.0%
Rebounds
34
37
Assists
13
16
Turnovers
9
7
Pts off Turnovers
12
9
2nd Chance Pts
12
11
Pts in the Paint
30
24
Fastbreak Pts
5
2
Bench Pts
30
24
More news about: University of New England
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Top-seeded University of New England withstood a furious second-half rally by No. 2 University of Southern Maine on its way to a 79-67 win in the title game of the 2011 ECAC Division III New England Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Campus Center.
The Nor'easters conclude their regular season with a school-record 24 wins against seven losses. The Huskies finish at 18-11. UNE picked up its second championship in as many years after capturing The Commonwealth Coast Conference title a year ago.
UNE would have to overcome a valiant comeback bid by the visiting Huskies. Trailing by 19 (51-32) with 1:12 gone in the second half, Southern Maine erased its deficit with a 29-9 run over the next 10 minutes. First-year guard Lauren Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) got red-hot, scoring 11 points during the spurt, which culminated with layup by senior Becky Dixon (Gardiner, Maine) to give USM a 60-59 lead with 9:51 remaining.
After the two teams traded baskets, UNE regained the lead (64-63) for good on a pair of free throws by junior forward Margo Russell (Madison, Maine). Russell's freebies would start a 9-0 run for Big Blue as senior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) followed with a three and sophomore Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) knocked down a pair at the line. Sophomore Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) added a jumper with 5:53 left, and the Nor'easters held a lead of six points or more the rest of the way.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kelley Paradis (Newport, R.I.) led all scorers with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Bunnell finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Russell chipped in 10 points, seven boards and six assists. Seniors Chelsey Meszaros (North Clarendon, Vt.) and April Mroz (Somersworth, N.H.) contributed 10 points apiece off the bench.
Rousseau and USM junior Courtney Cochran (Waite, Maine) each had a team-high 17 points. Rousseau added four assists and two steals, while Cochran was 6-for-8 from the floor and 5 of 6 at the line. Sophomore Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Maine) connected for three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, and Dixon added 10 points and six caroms.
Leading 28-23 with 5:45 left in the first half, Big Blue closed the half with a 16-7 run to forge a 44-30 cushion. The Nor'easters connected on eight shots from beyond the arc in the period.
After shooting a sizzling 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the field in the opening frame, UNE cooled off in the second to finish 23 of 50 (46.0 percent) for the contest. The Huskies connected on half (15 of 30) of their shots in the second stanza after hitting on just 34.6 percent (9 of 26) in the opening 20 minutes.
The Nor'easters conclude their regular season with a school-record 24 wins against seven losses. The Huskies finish at 18-11. UNE picked up its second championship in as many years after capturing The Commonwealth Coast Conference title a year ago.
UNE would have to overcome a valiant comeback bid by the visiting Huskies. Trailing by 19 (51-32) with 1:12 gone in the second half, Southern Maine erased its deficit with a 29-9 run over the next 10 minutes. First-year guard Lauren Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) got red-hot, scoring 11 points during the spurt, which culminated with layup by senior Becky Dixon (Gardiner, Maine) to give USM a 60-59 lead with 9:51 remaining.
After the two teams traded baskets, UNE regained the lead (64-63) for good on a pair of free throws by junior forward Margo Russell (Madison, Maine). Russell's freebies would start a 9-0 run for Big Blue as senior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) followed with a three and sophomore Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) knocked down a pair at the line. Sophomore Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) added a jumper with 5:53 left, and the Nor'easters held a lead of six points or more the rest of the way.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kelley Paradis (Newport, R.I.) led all scorers with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Bunnell finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Russell chipped in 10 points, seven boards and six assists. Seniors Chelsey Meszaros (North Clarendon, Vt.) and April Mroz (Somersworth, N.H.) contributed 10 points apiece off the bench.
Rousseau and USM junior Courtney Cochran (Waite, Maine) each had a team-high 17 points. Rousseau added four assists and two steals, while Cochran was 6-for-8 from the floor and 5 of 6 at the line. Sophomore Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Maine) connected for three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, and Dixon added 10 points and six caroms.
Leading 28-23 with 5:45 left in the first half, Big Blue closed the half with a 16-7 run to forge a 44-30 cushion. The Nor'easters connected on eight shots from beyond the arc in the period.
After shooting a sizzling 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the field in the opening frame, UNE cooled off in the second to finish 23 of 50 (46.0 percent) for the contest. The Huskies connected on half (15 of 30) of their shots in the second stanza after hitting on just 34.6 percent (9 of 26) in the opening 20 minutes.