GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies opened the game with a 19-2 run over the first six minutes and never looked back en route to an 82-38 victory over the University of New England Nor’easters in a non-conference women’s college basketball game Thursday evening at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.
The win was the seventh straight for the nationally-ranked Huskies who improved to 9-2 overall. The loss was the fifth in the last six game for the Nor’easters who fall to 3-5 overall.
Junior Tiffany Jones (Skowhegen, Maine) scored 10 of her game-high 18 points during the Huskies’ opening blitz. The 5-foot-9 forward connected on four-of-six shots in the opening six minutes, including a three-pointer from the corner, and a free throw to account for her 10 points.
UNE clawed its way back within seven (24-17) with seven minutes to play in the half, the result of a 15-5 run capped off by four points from junior Essie McKinnon (South Portland, Maine).
The Huskies responded with a 17-1 run to increase their margin to 25 (43-18) before McKinnon made the Nor’easters first basket in a four-minute stretch. Seven different players scored for the Huskies during the run. USM would take a 46-20 lead to the locker room at the break.
The margin continued to grow in the second half as UNE shot just 25 percent from the floor (5 for 20).
Joining Jones in double figures for the Huskies were juniors Katie Frost (Brewer, Maine/ Calais HS) and Megan Myles (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little HS) with 10 points each. Twelve of the 13 players who played contributed points for the Huskies. Freshman Lisa Welch (Newbury, Vt./Oxbow HS) came off the bench to grab a game-high eight rebounds and contributed eight points as well.
McKinnon was the lone UNE player in double digits, finishing the game with 10 points. She also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 44 percent (30 for 68) from the floor and converted 18 of 21 free throws. The Huskies also enjoyed a huge 49-21 advantage on the boards. UNE shot 30 percent (12 for 40) from the floor and committed 29 turnovers.
The Huskies will host Keene State College in a Little East Conference game this Saturday afternoon. Game time at the Hill Gymnasium is 1:00 p.m. UNE will host Roger Williams University on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.