Southern Maine 65, Bates 52
at Gorham, Maine

(Taken from a University of Southern Maine press release)

GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Amanda Kimball (Arundel, Maine) equaled her career high scoring 16 points to pace four players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Bates College Bobcats, 65-52, in a battle of New England's top two ranked Division three teams before a crowd of 663 Thursday night at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium. Southern Maine, ranked number two in this week's New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) poll, improves to 13-2 on the season. Bates, ranked number one, had its seven-game winning streak snapped while losing for just the second time this season. The Bobcats are now 11-2.

Kimball hit six of eight shots in the first half as the Huskies built a 38-26 lead by the break. The 5-9 small forward sparked a 10-0 run late in the first half with six points as the Huskies expanded their lead form seven (20-13) to 17 (30-13) with 5:47 left in the half. She had all 12 of her first points over the final eight minutes.

Sophomore Niki Dominiczak (Dixfield, Maine) converted four of seven shots for eight points as Southern Maine shot 49 percent (17 for 35) during the first 20 minutes while holding Bates to just 31 percent (11 for 35) shooting.

Bates, which came into the game shooting 43 percent as a team, closed to within nine (50-41) on a basket by junior Kate McLaughlin (Laconia, NH) with 12:06 to play. Southern Maine used an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to push the margin back up to 15 (58-43) when sophomore Jaime Zahm (Montpelier, Vt.) scored with 8:28 left. A three-point basket by Bates' sophomore Sarah Williamson (Plainfield, N.J.) and a steal and basket by freshman Carla Flaherty (Gorham, Maine) with 6:41 left quickly chopped five points off the Huskies' lead (58-48). Bates shooting went ice cold as the Bobcats could only muster a basket by McLaughlin and senior Emily King's (Lebanon, N.H.) two free throws over the final 6:41.

Southern Maine held Bates to just 26 percent shooting (21 for 81) for the game including 22 percent (10 for 46) in the second half. The Huskies finished the game shooting 45 percent (28 for 62) from the floor.

Senior Trisha Ripton (Newport, Maine) added 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished off seven assists and had four steals for the Huskies. Dominiczak and senior Julie Plant (Gorham, Maine) each finished with 10 points.

McLaughlin took team-high scoring honors with 15 points for the Bobcats. King added 12 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds before fouling out with 50 seconds to play. Senior Jolene Thurston (Post Mills, Vt.) had seven assists (no turnovers) and five steals.

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