Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine women's basketball team scored 20 consecutive points to open the second half to overcome a three-point halftime deficit in a 67-54 non-conference victory Tuesday evening at the Campus Center.

Southern Maine, ranked seventh in one national poll and eighth in another, extended its season-opening win streak to eight games, while the Nor'easters (5-4) saw their five-game string of wins come to an end.

The Nor'easters would lead the entire first half, taking their biggest lead (17-9) halfway thru the stanza before settling for a 23-20 lead at the break. 

Both team struggled putting the ball in the basket during the opening 20 minutes.  UNE made just 25.6 percent (10 of 39) of its field goal attempts, while the Huskies had even more trouble at 24.1 percent (7 of 29).

The second half would be a different story, however, as USM knocked down its first five shot attempts from the floor to turn a three-point deficit into an eight-point lead.  Forward Shannon Kynoch '08 (South  Burlington, Vt.) scored six points during that stretch to help give the Huskies a 31-23 lead 2:38 into the frame.

The visitors would continue to surge, reeling off nine more unanswered points to establish a 17-point cushion (40-23) at the 14:13 mark.

The Nor'easters halted the spurt, scoring their first points of the half on a lay-up by Sara Pelkey '09 (Barre, Vt.) with 13:50 on the clock. 

USM would maintain a double-digit margin for much of the remainder of the contest.  UNE got as close as eight (57-49) with just under two minutes to play, but the Huskies made three straight free throws to dash any Nor'easter upset bid.

Kynoch recorded a double-double with game highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way for Southern Maine.  She was 7-for-11 from the floor and added a pair of blocked shots. 

Guard Dawn Ross '08 (Gray, MaIne) scored 13 points for the winners, while forward Stacey Kent '09 (Northwood, N.H.) added 12 to go with seven rebounds.  Forward Josalee Danieli '08 (New Gloucester, Maine) had eight boards and three steals.

USM shot an efficient 58.6 percent (17 of 29) after halftime.

Forward Kylie Bragdon '11 (Winter Harbor, Maine) was the lone UNE player in double figures.  She scored a career-high 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting.  Pelkey and Carrie Bunnell '11 (Barnet, Vt.) tallied nine points apiece. 

Southern Maine wraps up first-semester play this Saturday (Dec. 15) with a non-conference match-up at rival Salem State College (1:00 p.m.).  The Nor'easters are off until Jan. 8 when they host  Bates College.

(posted Dec. 11, 2007 | 21:51 ET)