CASTINE, Maine – It took three weeks and encompassed a second meeting of the sides, but the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tilt between Maine Maritime and Maine-Farmington's women finally wrapped up with the Beavers (7-11, 6-6 NAC) handing the Mariners (9-9, 6-5 NAC) a 60-58 setback at Smith Gymnasium Tuesday evening.
Farmington overcame a 12-point deficit down the stretch to secure the season sweep. The game began on January 10, but a power outage led the game to being suspended with Maine Maritime in front 27-22 with 1:01 left in the first half. Play resumed Tuesday night with the teams playing the first 1:01 before a two-minute break before heading into the second half.
Maine Maritime's Casey McCloskey (Howland, Maine) put her team up a dozen, 56-44 with 7:01 left in the contest. That's when the Beavers' got busy, scoring on each of their next seven possessions.
Paige Saunders (Surry, Maine) sparked the decisive 16-2 run with lay-ups on consecutive possessions en route to her 16 points in the game. Kenni Norton (Strong, Maine), who scored a game-high 17 points, took over with a layup, then banged home a three immediately after the Mariners Sam Goda (Eliot, Maine) gave her team their final points of the night. Kelsey Graffam (Falmouth, Maine) made it a one-possession game on the next trip before Rachel Clement (Gray, Maine) hit a trifecta to knot the game at 58-58 with 2:02 to play.
Saunders, who sparked the run, capped it with a layup on the next trip. Neither team found the hole over the final 84 seconds.
Maine Maritime had a player on the line with 18 ticks, but neither shot fell through. The Mariners got the rebound and missed a trey, before getting a desperation-inbound play with 2.5 left. Norton stole the pass to seal the win.
In addition to her 14 points, Norton gave the Beavers a team-high six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Saunders also grabbed six from the glass on a night she hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor. Clement hit 4-of-5 shots, including a 3-for-3 effort behind the arc to finish with a dozen.
McCloskey hit five three pointers, primarily in the second half, en route to a team-high 15 points. Goda finished with 14 points, while Maggie Smith (Bath, Maine) finished with 12. Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Mariners return to action on Friday evening when Castleton State pays a visit for a NAC matchup. Maine-Farmington will host Colby-Sawyer in NAC play.
ME.-FARMINGTON 60, MAINE MARITIME 58
ME.-FARMINGTON (7-11, 6-6)
Kenni Norton 6-18 1-2 17; Paige Saunders 8-11 0-0 16; Rachel Clement 4-5 1-3 12; Lindsay Ranquist 2-5 0-0 5; Kelsey Graffam 2-4 0-0 4; Emma Morrison 1-1 0-0 2; Holly Oliver 1-3 0-0 2; Mallory Bonnevie 0-1 1-2 1; Marisa Kelley 0-1 1-3 1; Bianca Stoutamyer 0-4 0-0 0; Hannah Roy 0-0 0-0 0; Alyssa Neptune 0-0 0-0 0; Emily Higgins 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 4-10 60.
MAINE MARITIME (9-9, 6-5)
Casey McCloskey 5-11 0-0 15; Sam Goda 3-12 8-10 14; Maggie Smith 3-8 3-6 12; Bekah Campbell 3-7 1-2 7; Courtney Dufour 2-4 0-0 5; Casey Everest 0-1 2-2 2; Alyssa Severance 1-2 0-0 2; Leah Jackson 0-3 1-2 1; Crystal Clark 0-0 0-0 0; Jillian Perron 0-0 0-0 0; Kari Jones 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 17-51 15-22 58.
Me.-Farmington................ 22 38 - 60
Maine Maritime................ 29 29 - 58
3-point goals--Me.-Farmington 8-20 (Kenni Norton 4-9; Rachel Clement 3-3; Lindsay Ranquist 1-3; Holly Oliver 0-1; Mallory Bonnevie 0-1; Bianca Stoutamyer 0-2; Emily Higgins 0-1), Maine Maritime 9-18 (Casey McCloskey 5-9; Maggie Smith 3-4; Courtney Dufour 1-3; Kari Jones 0-2).
Fouled out--Me.-Farmington-None, Maine Maritime-None.
Rebounds--Me.-Farmington 33 (Kenni Norton 6; Paige Saunders 6), Maine Maritime 37 (Leah Jackson 15).
Assists--Me.-Farmington 17 (Kenni Norton 4; Rachel Clement 4), Maine Maritime 10 (Courtney Dufour 3; Maggie Smith 3).
Total fouls--Me.-Farmington 16, Maine Maritime 14.
Technical fouls--Me.-Farmington-TEAM, Maine Maritime-None.
A-73
Game began on Jan. 10 (7:30 pm). Power outage halted play with MMA up 27-22.
Play picked up with 1:01 left in first half, MMA ball at mid-court, on Jan. 31
1:01 played prior to two-minute break, then second half.