The Huskies, ranked fourth in this week’s D3hoops.com national poll and sixth in the USA TODAY/ESPN poll, recorded their 16th consecutive victory to improve to 20-1 overall, the 27th straight season with at least 20 victories. USM is also 11-0 in the LEC this season after registering its 73rd win in a row over a conference opponent. PSU fell to 6-15 overall and 2-9 in conference games.
Marble, the reigning LEC Player of the Year and this year’s leading scorer (21.9 points per game) and rebounder (11.5 boards per game), chalked up her 13th consecutive double-double with 29 points and 15 rebounds. She actually reached double figures in both departments in the first half with 18 points and 12 boards at the break. Santa Fe contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds to the winning effort.
Freshman Gretchen Fritch (South Boston, Mass.) led the Panther offense, coming off the bench to score 11 points, six of which came on three-point baskets. Juniors Annie Alosa (Concord, N.H.) and Meghan MacDonald (Salem, N.H.) added eight points apiece to the Panther cause.
The Huskies wasted little time in taking control of the contest, jumping out to a double-digit lead (14-4) five minutes after the opening tap. USM pulled away over the next 11 minutes, building a 22-point cushion (31-9) with four minutes to play in the first half, and went on to lead 39-17 at the break.
Southern Maine opened the second half with a 15-7 spurt before coasting home with the victory. The Huskies connected on 74 percent from the floor in the second half to finish the game at a 53 percent clip, while holding the Panthers to 26 percent shooting for the evening.
Plymouth State plays its final home game of the season this Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tip-off against UMass Boston. Southern Maine looks to extend its streaks with a 1:00 p.m. home game Saturday against Rhode Island College.
-- 30 --