2007-08 SCHEDULE

4/15/07

Simpson Shines in Senior All-Star Game

Forward Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), who scored so many clutch baskets during her four-year career at Farmington, added another when she scored a lay-up off an inbounds pass with :04 remaining to lead her team to a 71-70 victory in the New England Collegiate Women’s Basketball Association (NECWBA) Senior All-Star game this afternoon at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Simpson finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocks and is the first Farmington player to participate in the senior game since Becky Roak in 2000.

First-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added another impressive honor last week, when she was named the New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Year.  In addition, senior forward Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) was named to the All-New England Team and will represent Farmington in the New England All-Star game, set for April 15 at WPI in Worcester, MA.

Laflin, the first Farmington player to earn New England Rookie of the Year honors, averaged 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2006-07, both second-best on the team behind Simpson.  She was the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Year as well.

Simpson, a First Team All-NAC and All-Maine pick, led the Beavers in scoring (15.9/game) and rebounding (8.2/game) and graduates as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,772 career points.  She led Farmington to back-to-back NAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in her final two seasons and was a part of four-straight 20-win seasons.

In 2006-07, UMF posted a 25-4 record, setting a school record for single-season victories, and won both the NAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships after posting a perfect 17-0 conference record.  The Beavers earned their first-ever national ranking, advancing as high as #21 in the country, and defeated conference rival Maine Maritime in all three meetings, handing the Mariners three of their four losses this season. 

Laflin, Beaudoin Head Maine All-State Award Winners

First-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) was named the 2006 Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Year and head coach Jamie Beaudoin was named Coach of the Year to headline Farmington’s presence on this year’s awards listing. 

Laflin helped UMF to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship this season, averaging 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds/game.  Laflin was also named the NAC Rookie of the Year.

Beaudoin, who also earned NAC Coach of the Year honors, guided UMF to a program-best 25-4 record, its second NCAA Tournament and its first-ever national ranking (No. 21, d3hoops.com) this season.  The Beavers capped a 17-0 regular season NAC record with a 61-58 win over Maine Maritime in the conference finals. 

 Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) was named to the All-State First Team for the second-straight season after averaging 15.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.  She was the NAC Tournament MVP for the second straight season as well.  In addition, point guard Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) was named to the All-State Second Team after averaging 11.9 points per game and leading the NAC with 137 assists.  Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) earned a spot on the All-Rookie team after averaging 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds/game.

No. 21 Farmington Falls to No. 15 Brandeis, 90-66, in NCAA Tourney Opener

The UMF women’s basketball team (25-4), ranked No. 21 nationally by d3hoops.com, fell to Brandeis, 90-66, tonight in opening round play of the 2007 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.  Brandeis shot 57.1% in the opening half, including 62% from three-point range, on its way to a 49-23 halftime lead.  Farmington was led by Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), who scored a team-high 19 points, and Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME), who added 15.  The NAC was 0-2 in opening round games, as Maine Maritime lost to unranked Keene State, 61-51, in Brunswick, ME.   

The Judges connected on seven of their first 10 shots, building a 16-10 lead with 15:29, before a jumper from Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) cut the lead to four, 16-12, on the ensuing possession.  A basket from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) at the 9:39 mark pulled Farmington to within six, 22-16, but Brandeis countered with an 8-0 run to pull away with a 30-16 lead with just over seven minutes to go.  Leading 30-19, Brandeis closed the half with a 19-4 run, including 11-straight points, on its way to the 26-point halftime advantage.

In the second half, UMF outscored Brandeis, 43-41, but was unable to overcome the significant deficit.  Simpson and Laflin each scored 11 second-half points, and Sirois added seven.

The Beavers finished their season with a school-record 25 victories and graduate a trio of contributors – 1,000-point scorers Simpson (1,772) and Sirois (1,235) and Megan Boyd (Kittery, ME), who was a key contributor off the bench this season for the Beavers.   Box Score

The No. 24 UMF women’s basketball team withstood a furious second-half rally by No. 23 Maine Maritime to win its second-straight North Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship, 61-58, this afternoon in Farmington.   UMF captured its second-straight NAC Championship, improving to 25-3,  and although ranked behind Maine Maritime in the latest d3hoops.com poll, defeated the Mariners (25-3) for the third time this season.  Senior Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) earned Tournament MVP honors for the second-straight season following her 21-point, 11-rebound performance in the title game.

The Beavers led by 15, 48-33, with 9:25 to play, but the Mariners used a 20-4 run to take a 53-52 lead with 2:40 to play before Farmington closed the game with a 9-2 run to seal the victory.  Two free throws from Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME), a turnaround jumper in the lane and a three-point play with 1:03 to play, gave UMF a 59-56 lead.  Alyssa Burns’ basket on the next possession cut the lead to one, but Laflin hit two free throws with :05 remaining to push the lead back to three and long-range three at the buzzer by MMA missed wide left.  Laflin scored seven of UMF’s final nine points. 

Maine Maritime opened an early 7-4 lead, but Samantha Wiley (Bristol, ME) knocked down a three-pointer from the wing to tie the game and trigger a 15-4 run, capped by a three-point play from Laflin following her steal off an inbounds pass that increased the Beavers’ lead to 19-10.   MMA cut the lead to six, 19-13, but a pair of Laflin baskets on successive possessions – one on a fastbreak feed from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and one on a pass into the post from Megan Boyd (Kittery, ME) –  increased the lead to double figures, 23-13, with 7:56 to play.   After a lull in scoring, MMA used a basket and a three-pointer from Rebecca Moore to cut the lead to five, 23-18, with 2:20 to play.  Sirois and Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) answered with baskets and Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) hit a pair of free throws to push the lead back to 11, 29-18, with 1:00 to play and, after a Julia Knights lay-up, Bossie hit a turn-around jumper to cap an 8-2 run and give Farmington a 31-20 halftime edge.

Alyssa Burns opened the second half with a three-pointer on MMA’s first possession, but Simpson answered with three baskets during an 8-0 run as UMF built its lead to 16, 39-23, with 16:30 to go.  A pair of Burns free throws at the 13:20 mark cut the lead to 14, 41-27, and an 11-4 run by the Mariners cut the lead to 12, 48-36, with 8:28 to go following a Burns lay-up at the 8:12 mark.  Following a Farmington time-out, a pair of baskets and a three-pointer from Michelle Gott-Stillwell whittled the lead to just three, 48-45, as part of a 19-4 Mariner run before a steal and lay-up from Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) pushed the lead back to five, 50-45.  Trailing by three, 52-49, Gott-Stillwell and Knights hit back-to-back layups to complete the comeback and give MMA a 53-52 lead with 2:48 left while two more unanswered scores by the Mariners increased the lead to 56-52 with 1:58 to play. 

Laflin added 18 points, including a key, 6-for-6 effort from the free throw line, and Sirois finished with seven points, eight rebounds and five assists.  Burns led MMA with 18 points, while Knights added 16 and Gott-Stillwell chipped in with 11.  Box Score

All-Tournament Team: McIntosh, Husson; Goff, Castleton; Gott-Stillwell, MMA; Knights, MMA; Byrne, UMF Simpson, UMF (MVP).

Senior Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her 10^th double-double of the season to lead the top-seeded UMF women’s basketball team (24-3) to a 60-45 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Husson (14-13) tonight in semifinal action of the 2007 North Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship.  Simpson scored 14 of her points in the opening half, equaling Husson’s opening-half output as the Beavers built a 24-14 advantage at the break on their way to victory and a spot in the conference finals for the fourth-straight year.

The opening half was a defensive struggle, as UMF shot 30.3% from the floor and Husson shot at a 25.9% clip.  Simpson opened the game by hitting her first three shots and scoring UMF’s first seven points as the Beavers held a 7-4 lead with 18:03 to play.  After Husson closed the gap to 7-6, UMF responded with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Erin Porter (Bangor, ME), to build a 15-6 lead with 14:18 to go.  The lead grew to 10, 18-8, on a Simpson three-pointer at the 9:49 mark and reached as high as 12, 22-10, following a lay-up by Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) with 2:42 to play.

Leading 42-27 midway through the second half, Farmington used another 9-0 run, punctuated by a three-pointer from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME), to pull away for a 24-point, 51-27 lead with 7:32 to play.

Sirois added nine points, four rebounds and four assists for UMF, while Bossie chipped in with eight points and six boards.  For Husson, Annie McIntosh led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, scoring her 1,000^th career point midway through the second half.  Box Score

2/21/07

BEAUDOIN, LAFLIN HEADLINE NAC AWARD WINNERS

Head coach Jamie Beaudoin and first-year Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) were honored by the North Atlantic Conference as Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year and Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year.  Laflin was also one of three Farmington players to earn All-League honors, joined by First Team selections Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) and Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME).

Beaudoin, who also earned NAC Coach of the Year honors this past fall in men’s soccer, led Farmington to its second regular season championship in three seasons with a perfect 17-0 mark.  The Beavers posted a 29.2 scoring margin against conference teams and suffered just three losses during the regular season – two of which came at the hands of top-ranked Bowdoin and No. 4 Southern Maine.  The Beavers enjoyed their fifth-straight 20-win season under Beaudoin as well.

Laflin was honored as the conference’s top rookie following a regular season in which she averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.  She was among the conference leaders in both aforementioned categories, as well as field goal percentage (.538, second) and free throw percentage (.761, sixth). 

Simpson, who led Farmington with a 15.1 points/game, was sixth in the NAC in scoring and seventh in rebounding (8.5/game).  She led the league in free throw percentage (.831) and was among the leaders in three-point field goal percentage, blocks and steals.

Sirois led the conference in assists with 117 (4.7/game) and was third in steals (75, third) while averaging 12.2 points per contest.  She was also eighth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.337) and led Farmington with 34 baskets from beyond the arc.

2/20/07

UMF Women Begin NAC Title Defense with 81-56 Win over Johnson State

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) and Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) combined for 53 points to lead the UMF women’s basketball team to an 81-56 win over Johnson State tonight in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) quarterfinal action at Dearborn Gymnasium.  The Beavers (23-3) led by just six, 39-33, at the half, but outscored Johnson (13-13) 42-23 in the second half to pull away for the victory.

Johnson State led, 20-19, with 9:21 to play in the opening half following a Claudia Martineau jumper and trailed by just one, 30-29, with 4:52 to play.  Farmington ended the half with a 9-4 run, sparked by a three-pointer from Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) on its way the six-point halftime cushion.  In the second half, UMF used an early 7-0 run to extend its lead to 12, 49-37, on a pair of Simpson free throws with 16:10 to play and pushed the lead to as many as 29, 79-50, when Sam Wiley (Lincolnville, ME) knocked down a three-pointer with 3:41 remaining. 

Simpson led all players with 21 points and added seven rebounds, while Laflin contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds.  Sirois had another strong all-around game with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.  Shelly Szkutak (team high 11 rebounds) and Jenna Lewis led Johnson with 12 points apiece, while Sara Dolan added 11.  Box Score

2/19/07

SIMPSON NAMED NAC, MAINE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Senior forward Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) was named the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, February 18.  In addition, first-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) was named the MWBCA Rookie of the Week.

Simpson averaged 20.0 points and 11.3 rebounds as the Beavers finished off a perfect NAC season with three wins last week. Simpson scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a Monday night win over Husson and then scored 20 points, with nine rebounds in a win at Lasell on Friday. In the regular season finale on Saturday, she scored 19 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out five assists. She shot 58.5% from the floor and .455 from three-point range in the three games, posting the eighth and ninth double-doubles of her season.

Laflin picked up the Maine weekly award for the third time this season after contributing 13 points and five rebounds a contest in three UMF victories. She score in double figures in each game, including 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting versus Mount Ida. Laflin made 55.1 percent (16 of 21) of her field goal tries.

2/18/07

Top-Seeded Women’s Basketball To Host Johnson St. at 6pm Tuesday

The UMF women’s basketball team will host Johnson State on Tuesday, February 20, at 6pm in the opening round of the 2007 North Atlantic Conference Championship.  Farmington, the defending champion, will seek its second-straight automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament starting on Tuesday night.

UMF, which captured the NAC regular season crown, enters postseason play with a 22-3 record, including a perfect 17-0 mark in NAC play.  The Beavers became just the second team in league history to post a 17-0 record and just the third team to move through conference play undefeated.  Farmington is led by senior Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) (15.1 ppg/8.5 rpg), one of three players to average 10+ points this season.  First-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) is second on the team at 14.3 ppg. while senior point guard Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) is third at 12.2.  Sirois also leads the team in three-pointers (34), assists (117) and steals (75).  UMF outscored the opposition by an average of 22.1 points this season, including 29.2 in conference play.

Johnson State enters quarterfinal action with a 10-8 record, advancing to the NAC Tournament as the fourth-place team in the NAC West standings.  Prior to a 69-67, double overtime loss to Becker on Saturday, JSC had won six games in a row – five in conference play.   Claudia Martineau leads the team in scoring at 15.5 points/game, while Casey Rusin is second at 10.9 and Jenna Lewis is third at 10.8.  Martineau is also the team’s second-best rebounder at 7.1/contest, while Rusin and Lewis are the top three-point shooters, combining for 70 this season. 

In the only meeting between the two teams this season, Laflin scored a career-high 24 points and Simpson added 16 as the Beavers won, 73-38, at Dearborn Gymnasium on January 20.  The Beavers jumped out to a 27-4 lead through the first 13 minutes of the first half and led, 38-10, at the break on their way to the victory.  Laflin knocked down 11-of-17 from the floor and converted a pair of free throws to top her previous best – a 22-point effort vs. St. Joe’s on November 21 – and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.  Simpson was equally efficient, converting 7-of-9 shots, while grabbing seven boards and dishing out a team-high five assists.  Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. Claudia Martineau led Johnson (6-9) with 10 points. 

2/17/07

UMF Women Finish off Undefeated Conference Slate with 81-58 Win over Mt. Ida

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) scored 19 points and led all players with 15 rebounds and Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added 17 to lead the UMF women’s basketball team past Mt. Ida, 81-58, this afternoon in Newton.  With the victory, Farmington (22-3) finishes its 2006-07 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) schedule with a perfect 17-0 mark and, as regular season champions, will serve as the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NAC Tournament.   UMF’s perfect 17-0 record is the second in NAC history.

A 23-0 run from the end of the first half through the opening minutes of the second half proved to be the difference in the game.

Mt. Ida proved a worthy opponent through the first 15 minutes of play, holding a 33-29 lead with 4:32 remaining in the opening half following a Chrystal Burgess three-pointer.  The Beavers, however, regrouped and finished off the opening half with an 11-0 run, highlighted by three baskets from Laflin, to take a 40-33 lead into the break. 

UMF scored the first 12 points of the second half, breaking the game open with a 52-33 lead at the 15:50 mark following an Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) lay-up.  The lead grew to 21, 62-41, at the 11:28 mark following a pair of free throws from Whitney Page (Sorento, ME) and reached as high as 29, 77-48, following a Laflin basket with just under five minutes to play. 

Steph Bossie (Winslow, ME) added 11 points to round out the double-figure scorers, while Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) added nine.  Box Score

 Box Score

2/16/07

UMF Women Within One Game of NAC Perfection Following 78-62 Win over Lasell

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) led four players in double figures with 20 points as the UMF women’s basketball team improved to 21-3 overall and 16-0 in conference play with a 78-62 win over Lasell on Friday night in Newton.  The Beavers outscored Lasell, 46-30, in the opening half on its way to victory and, with a win today at Mt. Ida, will finish the regular season unbeaten in conference play.  Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) and Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added 11 and 10, respectively.  Box Score

2/12/07

UMF Women Clinch Conference Crown with 70-50 Win over Husson

The UMF women’s basketball team (20-3, 15-0 NAC) received 21 points from Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) in her final regular season home game in a 70-50 win over Husson tonight at Dearborn Gymnasium.  With the victory, UMF clinched the 2007 North Atlantic Conference regular season conference championship and will be the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. 

The Beavers overcame a sluggish start – one which saw them trail, 7-4, four minutes into the game – with a 20-4 run over the next eight minutes that gave them a 24-11 lead on back-to-back three-pointers from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) with 8:40 to go.  Husson regrouped and outscored Farmington, 18-7, over the remainder of the opening half and trailed, 33-28, at the break. 

In the second half, UMF pushed its lead well into double figures three times in the first half of play, only to see Husson pull back within single digits on each occasion.  UMF led by four, 48-44, before a pair of three-point plays by Sirois and Simpson pushed the lead to 10, 54-44, with just over 6:00 to go.  Husson again sliced the lead to six, 54-48, before a pair of Sirois free throws at the 2:24 mark pushed the lead to double digits for good.

Simpson was 7-of-15 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line on her way to her 29^th career 20-point game.  She also added 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Junior Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) added 13, while senior Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and first-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) chipped in with 12.  For Husson, Carmen Ballard led with 14 points, while Jenny Rollins added 11. 

The UMF seniors – Simpson, Sirois and Megan Boyd (Kittery, ME) – improved their home record to 61-7 over their four-year career and reached the 20-win mark for the fourth-straight season.  Box Score

2/10/07

Sirois and Laflin Star Again as UMF Women Down Mt. Ida, 86-55

Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) netted a game-high 18 points and six assists and Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added 17 as the UMF women’s basketball team defeated Mt. Ida, 86-55, for its 12^th-straight victory.  UMF also remained perfect in league play, improving to 19-3 overall and 14-0 in the NAC.

UMF led from start to finish, jumping out to a 5-0 lead on a Laflin layup at the 17:43 mark.  Mt. Ida hung around for the first 12 minutes of play, trailing just 20-12 with 8:00 to go in the opening half, but the Beavers used to a 12-4 run over the next four minutes to build a sizeable lead.  A 7-0 run to start the second half, highlighted by a basket and three free throws from Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) sealed the game.

Laflin was 7-of-9 from the floor, improving her field goal percentage to .536 this season.  Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) added 10 points and Erin Johnson (Baileyville, ME) contributed eight points and nine rebounds.   Box Score

2/7/07

Second-Half Surge Lifts UMF Women Past MMA, 53-46

Trailing at the half by five, 30-25, the UMF women’s basketball team outscored Maine Maritime 28-16 in the second half on its way to a 53-46 win over the Mariners tonight in Castine.  UMF received 15 points from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and 14 from Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) in the victory, which improved the Beavers’ record to 18-3 overall and 13-0 in the conference.  MMA dropped its second game to UMF in as many weeks and is now 19-2 overall and 11-2 in conference play.  Box Score

2/5/07

Laflin Earns Multiple Weekly Honors

Freshman forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME), for her role in UMF’s 3-0 effort last week, earned Player of the Week honors from the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) and the New England Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (NEWBCA).  In addition, classmate Steph Bossie (Winslow, ME) was named Rookie of the Week by the NEWBCA and MWBCA. 

Laflin averaged 21.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in a 3-0 week for UMF, which ran its win streak to 10 games.  The team's leading scorer in all three games, she scored 16 points in a win at Husson on Monday night, adding a team-high 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.  Two days later, Laflin scored 18 points and added six rebounds in a win over Colby.  She finished the week by establishing a new career high with 30 points, connecting on 14-of-16 shots from the floor, in a victory over Lesley.  Laflin shot .675 from the field in the three games and .833 from the free throw line.

Laflin is second on the team in scoring (14.4 ppg.) and rebounding (6.5) and first in field goal percentage (.526).  She also leads all conference freshman in all three categories.

Bossie, in a reserve role, averaged 11.0 and 6.7 rebounds for the Beavers, shooting .583 from the field.  She opened the week with a nine-point, four-rebound effort in the Husson victory, then followed with double-digit efforts vs. Colby (11) and Lesley (13).  She is averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds this season.

UMF, at 12-0 and in first place in the conference standings, travels to Maine Maritime on Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the second-place Mariners.

2/3/07

UMF Women Run Past Lesley, 91-62, as Laflin Scores 30

The UMF women’s basketball team (17-3, 12-0) shot 57.1% from the floor and scored 50 first-half points on its way to a 91-62 victory over Lesley this afternoon at Dearborn Gymnasium.  Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) netted a career-high 30 points, connecting on 14-of-16 from the floor, including 19 points in the opening half.  Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) matched her career-high with 16, while Steph Bossie (Winslow, ME) and Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) added 13 each.

UMF jumped out to a 16-4 lead through the first 3:45 of play and used a 9-0 run late in the opening half to build a 43-19 lead with 2:56 to play.  A pair of Laflin lay-ups, sandwiched around a free throw, pushed UMF’s point total to 50 as time expired.  In the second half, Bossie hit a lay-up at the 9:20 mark to build the Beavers’ lead to 31, 68-37, as the teams played evenly for the remainder of the contest.

Laflin added nine rebounds and four blocks in the victory.  Box Score

1/31/07

UMF Women Push Win Streak to Nine With 76-48 Victory Over Colby

Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored a game-high 18 points and Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) added 17 to lead the UMF women’s basketball team (16-3) to a 76-48 win over Colby (5-14) tonight at Dearborn Gymnasium.  The Beavers have now won nine straight games and 13 of their last 14.

Colby remained within striking distance for the first 15 minutes of play, trailing by five, 22-17, with 4:50 left to play before UMF ran off a 10-2 run to close the half with a 13-point, 32-19 lead.  Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) triggered the run with three baskets and a free throw.

The Beavers grew their lead in the second half, pushing it to 20, 52-32, on an Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) three-pointer at the 10:53 mark and a Simpson put-back moments later to close a 9-0 run after the Mules pulled within 11.   A three from Meghan Boyd (Kittery, ME) at the 8:41mark increased the lead to 22, 59-37, while a pair of Simpson free throws with just over two minutes remaining gave UMF its largest lead, 72-41.

Bossie added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Beavers, while Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) chipped in with seven points, nine rebounds and four assists.  Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) added a game-high eight assists.   For Colby, Lauren Duval led with 13 points and six rebounds, while Alison Cappelloni added 12 points and eight boards.  Box Score

1/30/07

Laflin, Simpson Lead UMF to 77-54 Win at Husson

Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) added 15 points and 13 boards to lead the UMF women’s basketball team to a 77-54 win at Husson on Monday evening.  With the win, UMF is now 15-3 overall and 11-0 in conference play.

Husson kept the game close, trailing just 39-33 at the half.  With UMF leading 50-44 with 14:26 to play, the Beavers put together a 16-0 run over the next five minutes to open a 66-44 lead with 9:07 to go.  Simpson triggered the run with a jumper at the 14:13 mark, while Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) knocked down two key baskets during the stretch. 

Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Bossie and Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) added nine apiece.  Box Score

1/29/07

UMF Women Participate in WBCA’s “Think Pink” Initiative

Sporting pink T-shirts during warm-ups, with each member of the coaching staff decked out in pink shirts, the UMF women’s basketball team participated in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) “Think Pink” Initiative during its game at Thomas College on Saturday, January 27.  The Beavers joined teams from around the country at the Division I, II and III levels in wearing pink to raise awareness about cancer and those coaches in the profession who are battling cancer.

Get “Marooned at Dearborn” This Wednesday Night

This Wednesday, the UMF men’s and women’s basketball teams will host in-state rival Colby College in a non-conference doubleheader.  With both teams off to excellent starts in conference play, this is a great opportunity to support the Beavers in this important doubleheader of basketball action. 

As added incentive, anyone in attendance who allows themselves to be “Marooned at Dearborn” for the night by wearing a maroon piece of clothing will be entered into a special drawing at halftime of each contest.  

The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m., while the men’s game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.

Simpson Named Maine, NAC Player of the Week

Senior forward Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), for her role in UMF’s 2-0 week that included a victory over previously-undefeated and nationally-ranked Maine Maritime Academy, has been named the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and Maine Player of the Week.

Simpson averaged 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week for the Beavers, playing a key role in knocking off the Mariners for the first time this season. In that game, Simpson totaled 24 points and 11 rebounds, also blocking a shot at the end of regulation to preserve the tie. Her put back in the final minute of regulation tied the game and, in overtime, she converted two free throws that provided the final margin of victory. On Saturday at Thomas, Simpson finished with 21 points and seven rebounds in Farmington's 11th-straight conference victory. She shot 53.6% from the floor and 50.0 from three-point range during the two games.

Simpson is averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season. 

1/27/07

UMF Sweeps Thomas in NAC Basketball Action

The UMF men’s and women’s basketball teams defeated Thomas College this afternoon in a conference twinbill in Waterville.  In the first game, the UMF women (14-3, 10-0) defeated the Terriers, 80-43, behind a 21-point, seven-rebound effort from Kari Simpson (Wells, ME).  In the nightcap, the UMF men (8-9, 5-2) received 22 first-half points from Matt St. John (Wayne, ME) and a 24-point, seven-rebound effort from Sean Fry (Jay, ME) on its way to a 80-48 victory.   Women's Box

1/22/07

UMF Women Knock Off #19 MMA, 66-62, In Overtime Thriller

It took an extra five minutes of play, but the UMF women’s basketball team remained perfect in NAC play with a 66-62, overtime victory over previously-undefeated and nationally-ranked Maine Maritime (15-1, 7-1) tonight at Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington.  Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), who blocked the potential winning shot at the end of regulation and hit two key free throws in overtime, led the Beavers (13-3, 9-0) with 24 points and 11 rebounds.  The win marked the second year in a row that UMF has defeated a nationally-ranked team, following its win over Bates last season.

In a game that featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties, UMF went into halftime down by two, 30-28, after an 6-1 run over the final two minutes that erased a seven-point deficit.   Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) started the run with a short jumper and Simpson converted a lay-up in the final seconds of play.  The Beavers went ahead by three, 35-32, in the early moments of the second half following a lay-up from Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) but MMA reclaimed the lead at 39-37 with 11:52 to play following a basket from Alyssa Burns (game-high 28 points).  The lead grew to five moments later when Burns converted a three-point play, but a jumper from Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) and a three-pointer from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) knotted the score at 42-42 with 10:00 to play. 

Neither team led by more than four the rest of the way, although the Mariners took a 56-54 lead with 1:37 to play, but Simpson knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game.  After a pair of free throws at the other end by Michelle Gott-Stillwell gave MMA a 58-56 lead with :47 to play, Simpson came up big again, rebounding a missed three-pointer by Sirois and dropping in a lay-up to tie the game at 58-58 with :29 to go.  Her block at the other end as time expired forced the decisive overtime period.

Off the opening tip, Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) slashed her way to the basket and gave UMF a quick, 60-58 lead.  Kaitlyn Leeman missed a pair of free throws on MMA’s first overtime possession and the Beavers capitalized, as Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) dropped in a lay-up off a feed from Simpson for a 62-58 lead.  A MMA turnover game Farmington the ball with a chance to put the game away, but neither team was able to score for the next 1:20, until Burns knocked down a baseline jumper at the 1:54 mark to cut the lead to 62-60.  Simpson, fouled by Burns at on the ensuing possession, hit both free throws and, with :26 left, Burns converted a lay-up and was fouled on the play, given a chance to pull the Mariners to within one.  After missing the free throw, Laflin and Sirois were fouled on UMF’s next two possessions and each connected on 1-of-2 free throws, sandwiched around another MMA turnover, which sealed the hard-fought victory.

Laflin and Sirois added 15 and 12 points, respectively, in the winning effort, while Byrne dished out a team-high seven assists.  In addition to Burns’ 28 points, Gott-Stillwell added 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Box Score

Fry, Laflin Earn Conference Honors

Junior Sean Fry (Jay, ME) and first-year Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) received weekly accolades from the North Athletic Conference for the week ending Sunday, January 21.  Fry earned Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, while Laflin was named the conference’s Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week.

Fry was UMF's leading scorer in both games this week, a pair of NAC victories that moved the Beavers to 4-1 in league play and into second place in the East standings. In Friday's 68-53 win over Castleton State, Fry scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. On Saturday, Fry totaled a game-high 16 points - 11 in the first half - in UMF's 79-46 win. In the two games, Fry averaged 18.0 points, shooting 56% from the floor and 67% from three-point range, with 11.5 rebounds.

Laflin averaged 15.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in a 3-0 week for the Beavers, including a pair of double-doubles. She started the week with a 14-point, 12-rebound effort in a win over Castleton on Friday, then dropped in a career-high 24 points to go along with 11 rebounds on Saturday in a win over Johnson. On Sunday morning, Laflin added eight points and four rebounds in limited action in the Beavers' win at Wheelock.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday night, when they host Maine Maritime in a conference doubleheader.  The women will play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.

1/21/07

UMF Women Win For Third-Straight Day, Beating Wheelock 77-29

The UMF women’s basketball team captured its third league victory in as many days, defeating Wheelock College, 77-29, this morning at Pine Manor College.  The Beavers, who beat Castleton State and Johnson State in home contests on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, improved to 12-3 overall and 8-0 in league play.  This morning’s game was a rescheduled contest from last Monday.

The 5:30 a.m. departure time from Farmington did little to affect the Beavers, who received 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and 11 points and five rebounds in limited play from Kari Simpson (Wells, ME).  Meghan Boyd (Kittery, ME) added 10 points and four assists in the victory. 

The Beavers return to action on Wednesday, when they host Maine Maritime (15-0, 7-0) at 5:30 p.m. at Deaborn Gymnasium.  The game, which features the remaining unbeaten squads in NAC play, is a rematch of last season’s NAC Championship, which UMF captured, 55-53, in Castine, to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

1/20/07

UMF Women Move to 7-0 in League Play with 73-38 Win over Johnson

Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored a career-high 24 points and Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) added 16 as the UMF women’s basketball team (11-3, 7-0) remained perfect in league play with a 73-38 win over Johnson State this afternoon in Farmington.  The Beavers jumped out to a 27-4 lead through the first 13 minutes of the first half and led, 38-10, at the half on their way to the victory.

Bossie knocked down 11-of-17 from the floor and converted a pair of free throws to top her previous best – a 22-point effort vs. St. Joe’s on November 21 – and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.  Simpson was equally efficient, converting 7-of-9 shots, while grabbing seven boards and dishing out a team-high five assists.  Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.   Claudia Martineau led Johnson (6-9) with 10 points.  Box Score

1/19/07

Simpson’s Basket Lifts UMF Women to 55-54 Overtime Victory

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) led the UMF women’s basketball team (10-3, 6-0) with 20 points, but it was her lay-up with :15 remaining in overtime that mattered most.  Simpson scored off a feed from point guard Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) as the Beavers edged Castleton, 55-54, in overtime tonight in Farmington. 

The game appeared settled in regulation, when Steph Bossie (Winslow, ME) converted a lay-up to give Farmington a 44-43 lead with 2:18 to go and, after a turnover, Simpson added a lay-up to extend the lead to 46-43 with just over a minute to play.  Castleton regouped following a missed three-pointer by Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) and, with just :08 on the clock, Mary Nienow knocked down a three-pointer to push the game into overtime.

First-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added 14 points in the victory, a game in which neither team shot better than 30% from the floor.  Carley Amedore led Castleton with 17 points and LeeAnne Ketchen added 10.  Box Score

1/15/07

UMF-Wheelock Game Postponed

Today's UMF-Wheelock women's basketball game, scheduled for 1pm at Pine Manor College, has been postponed.  The game will be rescheduled for a future date.

1/13/07

Sirois, Johnson Pace UMF Women in 86-37 Win over Becker

Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) tallied a game-high 20 points and Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) added a career-high 16 to lead the UMF women’s basketball team (9-3, 5-0) to an 86-37 win over Becker today in Worcester.  Sirois and Johnson paced a quartet of double-figure scorers that also included Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) and Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME), who tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Leading 16-11 with 10:25 to go in the opening half, a three-point play from Meghan Boyd (Kittery, ME) started an 11-0 run over the next two minutes that pushed the lead to 27-11.  A three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) accounted for the final five points of the run.  The lead grew to 20, 36-16, on a free throw from Samanta Wiley (Lincolnville, ME) with 2:53 to go, part of a 14-1 run to end the half, which gave the Beavers a healthy, 45-20 lead at the intermission.

Simpson and Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) led the Beavers with eight rebounds each, while Sirois contributed five assists and eight steals.  Box Score

1/12/07

Simpon’s Effort Keeps UMF Women Perfect in League Play

Senior forward Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) poured in a game-high 25 points to help lead the Beavers to a 71-41 win over Elms College in Friday night’s North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women’s basketball game at the Maguire Center.  Elms lost for the fifth time in its last six games to fall to 4-8 overall, 2-3 NAC. UMF improved to 8-3 overall, 4-0 NAC.

Farmington raced out to a 24-6 lead in the game’s opening 13:02 and limited the host Blazers to under 20-percent shooting for most of the first half.  Simpson dropped in 12 of her points in the first half on 5 of 9 shooting from the field to help stake the Beavers to a 37-17 lead at intermission.

The Beavers then added a 9-2 run that included a 3-pointer and a jumper by Simpson in the first 4:36 of the second half to pull away for good.   Sophomore guard Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) added 10 points and six rebounds for the Beavers in the victory.  The UMF defense held Elms to just 27% shooting and forced 35 Blazer turnovers.  Box Score

1/10/07

UMF Women Fall to Top-Ranked Bowdoin, 65-46

Senior Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) scored a game-high 19 points and first-year Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) added 11, but it was not enough as the UMaine-Farmington women’s basketball team (7-3) fell to top-ranked Bowdoin, 65-46, tonight at Dearborn Gymnasium.  All-American Eileen Flaherty led the 12-0 Polar Bears with 18 points.

UMF led, 4-3, early in the contest before Bowdoin assembled a 13-3 run over the next seven minutes to take a 16-6 lead with 12:22 remaining following a Melissa Berne three-pointer.  The Polar Bears pushed their lead to 14, 24-10, at the 7:36 mark, and extended it as high as 17, 31-14, in the final minutes of the first half.  A three-pointer from Simpson in the final seconds of play drew Farmington within 14, 31-17, heading into the break.

The Beavers opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to nine, 33-24, following a three-pointer from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) at the 17:54 mark.  Bowdoin pushed its lead back to double-digits on the ensuing possession and allowed UMF to get no closer than 10 points (38-28) following a pair of Simpson free throws with 14:19 left to play.

UMF shot 37% for the game, including 45% in the second half, but suffered the effects of 27 turnovers.  Bowdoin, which also received 12 points from Alexa Kaubris and 11 from Julia Loonin, outrebounded Farmington, 41-30, and knocked down 12 three-pointers, including a 4-for-4 effort from Kaubris.  Bowdoin head coach Stefanie Pemper also notched her 200^th career victory.  Box Score

1/7/07

UMF Women Return to Action with 75-65 Win at Plymouth State

Senior Kari Simpson (Wells, Maine) registered 18 points and 12 rebounds Sunday afternoon to lead the University of Maine at Farmington (7-2)  to a 75-65 victory over Plymouth State University in non-conference women’s basketball action at Foley Gymnasium.

Simpson, who scored 10 of her 18 points from the free throw line, led a group of four Beavers who scored in double figures.  Senior Karen Sirois (Augusta, Maine) and freshman Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, Maine) contributed 16 points apiece, and sophomore Amanda Byrne (Winslow, Maine) chipped in with 12 points. 

UMF took control of the contest midway through the first half, pulling away to a 10-point advantage (21-11) with six minutes remaining.  PSU stayed in the game but trailed, 34-21, at the break.

The Beavers led by double digits most of the second half, and held their biggest margin, 21 points (63-42) with less than eight minutes remaining.  But the Panthers would not give up, outscoring UMF 21-7 over the next six minutes, to pull to within seven points (70-63) with 1:45 on the clock.  The Beavers held on down the stretch, pulling out the win by making five of six free throws in the final minute.  Box Score

12/15/06

Sirois Reaches 1,000-Point Mark in UMF’s 75-59 Win over UNE

Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) scored a game-high 17 points, including her 1,000^th career point, to lead the UMF women’s basketball team to a 75-59 win over the University of New England tonight at Dearborn Gymnasium.  Sirois, who entered the game needing 13 points to reach the milestone, converted a lay-up at the 12:24 mark of the second half to attain the goal.    Her 11 first-half points helped Farmington (6-2) build a commanding 46-29 lead at the half.

Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME), who connected on all five of her shots from the floor, added 12 points, while Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) chipped in with 11 to lead the Beavers.  Sara Pelkey had 19 to pace UNE (3-5), which outscored UMF 30-29 in the second half but could not overcome the 17-point halftime deficit.    Box Score

12/11/06

12/9/06

UMF Women Use Strong First Half to Roll Past Bay Path, 73-22

Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) had 19 points, including 14 in the first half as the UMF women’s basketball team built a 45-9 halftime lead on its way to a 73-22 win over Bay Path this afternoon in Farmington.  The Beavers improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in NAC play with their second victory in as many days.

UMF also received 12 points from first-year Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) and 10 points from fellow first-year Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME), as 10 different players scored during the game.  The Beavers shot 46.6% from the floor in the game, and held Bay Path to just three first half field goals and 18.4% shooting for the game.  Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) scored nine points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.  Box Score

12/8/06

Sirois, Simpson Lead UMF Past Wheelock, 89-38

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) connected on 9-of-11 shots, including all three three-point attempts, to score a game-high 21 points and Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) added 20 points to lead the UMF women’s basketball team (4-2, 2-0) to an 89-38 win over Wheelock tonight at Dearborn Gym in Farmington.  The Beavers held Wheelock to just five first-half field goals in building a 45-19 halftime advantage.

First-year Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) and junior Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) added 10 points apiece for the Beavers, while Laflin led the team with eight rebounds.  Sirois added five assists and six steals as the Beavers forced 33 turnovers in the game.  Jess O’Conner led Wheelock with 12 poiints.  Box Score

12/6/06

Bates Tops UMF Women, 66-56

Despite a game-high 20 points from first-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME), the UMF women’s basketball team suffered a 66-56 loss to Bates tonight in non-league action in Lewiston.  The Beavers shot just 21.9% in the second half and fall to 3-2 this season.

UMF built a 10-6 lead following an Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) jumper with 13:57 to go in the opening half, but Bates rallied to tie the game at 10-10.  Follow a pair of Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) free throws, which gave the Beavers a 12-10 edge, the Bobcats went on an 18-6 run over the next seven minutes to take a 28-18 lead with 5:50 to go in the opening half. 

In the second stanza, UMF shaved the lead to four on two occasions early, both times following baskets from Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) and cut the lead to three, 53-50, with 7:52 to play following a three-pointer from Samantha Wiley (Lincoln, ME).  That was as close as Farmington would get, however, as Bates countered with an 8-0 run to put the game away.

Sirois added 13 points for UMF, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) led the way with eight rebounds.  For Bates, Matia Kostikas recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Lauren Yanofsky had 10 points and 13 boards.  Bates out-rebounded UMF, 56-36, in the contest and won despite 24 turnovers.  Box Score

11/29/06

Simpson and Sirois Lead UMF Past Thomas, 75-50

Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) scored a game-high 23 points and hauled down 10 rebounds and Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) added 11 points to lead the UMF women’s basketball team (3-1) to a 75-50 win over Thomas tonight at Deaborn Gymnasium.  The win gives the Beavers a 1-0 start to conference play.

A three-pointer by Brittany Morin gave Thomas an early 8-4 lead, but the Beavers responded with a 12-2 run, highlighted by a trio of Simpson baskets and a Sirois three-pointers, to take a 16-10 lead with 11:26 to play.  UMF extended its lead to as many as 10 in the opening half before a basket just before halftime by Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) gave UMF a 33-22 lead heading into the break.

In the second half, a lay-up from Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) at the 11:56 mark gave Farmington a 54-33 lead and control of the contest.  The lead grew to 25 just over four minutes to play.

UMF shot 45.8% from the floor, including 7-of-11 from three-point range, in the victory and received eight points apiece from Sam Wiley (Lincolnville, ME), Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) and Bossie.  Thomas was led by Amy Miles and Kim Drosdik, who tallied 12 points apiece.  The Terriers shot just 29% from the floor, converting just 4-of-24 three-point attempts.   Box Score

11/26/06

Laflin Named Maine Rookie of the Week

Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) has been named the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 26.  Laflin played a key role in Farmington’s 89-51 win at Saint Joseph’s last week.

In the victory over the Monks, Laflin scored a game-high 22 points, connecting on 8-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.  She also added five rebounds, two assists and a steal, despite playing just 19 minutes.  She scored 15 of her points in the opening half, helping UMF build a 57-29 lead at the break.

Through three games this season, Laflin is leading the Beavers in scoring at 16.7 ppg., shooting a team-best .618 from the floor (21-of-34) and is also contributing 6.0 rebounds/game.  The 2-1 Beavers return to action on Wednesday night, when they host Thomas College in their home and conference opener.

11/21/06

Laflin Continues to Impress as UMF Beats SJC, 89-51

Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored a game-high 22 points and added five rebounds to lead the UMF women’s basketball team (2-1) to an 89-51 win at Saint Joe’s tonight.  The Beavers scored a season-high 57 points in the opening half on its way to victory, shooting 56.4% in the opening half and 55.6% for the game. 

The Beavers roared out of the gates, as Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) scored the game’s first seven points in span of just 1:48.  Following an Erin Johnson (Bailey Island, ME) jumper with 16:46 remaining, UMF had itself a 16-4 lead just over three minutes into the game.  The lead ballooned to 20, 30-10, following a basket by Kari Simpson (Wells, ME) with 11:26 left to play and reached its opening-half high of 29 when Erin Porter (Bangor, ME) converted at the buzzer.

Sirois and Stephanie Bossie (Winslow, ME) added 13 points apiece, while Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) chipped in with nine.  Simpson, who scored six points, led the team with eight rebounds.  Box Score

11/18/06

UMF Women Fall to No. 3 Southern Maine, 57-49

Ashley Marble and Stacey Kent each recorded a double-double as #3 Southern Maine edged UMF, 57-49,  in the championship game of the 2006 USM Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon at Warren G. Hill

 With both teams finding it difficult to zero in on the basket in the first half, UMF and Southern Maine found themselves locked in a low-scoring affair at 25-25 at the break. UMF shot 31.8 percent (7-for-22) in the opening half and led by as many as nine points, following a three-pointer from sophomore guard Amanda Byrne (Winslow, Maine) with 6:43 left. Southern Maine rallied to tie, however, outscoring the Beavers 11-2 after Byrne’s basket.

Both teams battled in the opening minutes of the second half trading the lead while trading baskets, before Southern Maine took the lead for good on a baseline jumper from Kent off of a Marble assist with 12:54 to play. The Huskies, however, were unable to put the tough-minded Beavers away and never led by more than 10 points as Kari Simpson (Wells, ME), Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) and senior guard Karen Sirois (Augusta, Maine) kept UMF at the Huskies heels. Sirois scored all 10 of her points in the second half, while Simpson and Laflin each scored in double figures netting 14 and 11 points, respectively.

After taking its largest lead of the game, 48-38, with 4:55 on the clock, USM saw its lead chopped to just four points, 51-47 with 2:38 remaining after a 9-3 Farmington run. Sirois sparked the UMF run making a lay-up and draining the free throw for a traditional three-point play, while Laflin and Simpson each added a lay-up. Southern Maine sealed the game from the free throw line, making six-of-six down the stretch including four consecutive from Kent.  Box Score

11/17/06

Simpson Sets Scoring Mark in UMF’s 75-66 Win over Bridgewater State

First-year forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored a team-high 17 points, including 15 in the second half, to pace four players in double figures as the UMF women's basketball team downed the Bridgewater State College Bears 75-66 Friday night in a first round game of the season-opening USM Tip-Off Tournament at the University of Southern Maine.

UMF senior forward Kari Simpson (Wells, Maine) scored all 16 of her points in the first half to help the Beavers build a 38-29 lead at the intermission.  Simpson's first basket, coming in the first minute of play, made her the school's all-time leading scorer.  She moved passed Dawn Ann Higgins with whom she shared the mark of 1,328 points.  Simpson grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, had five assists and blocked four shots.

The win puts the Beavers into the championship game Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. against the winner of the USM-Husson College game. 

Laflin connected on 8-of-14 shots from the floor en route to her game-high 17 points.  She also grabbed 10 rebounds and made two steals.  Sophomore Samantha Wiley (Lincolnville, ME) came off the bench to chip in 11 points, and senior Karen Sirois (Augusta, ME) added 10 points and five assists.  Box Score

2006-2007 SEASON PREVIEW

The UMF women’s basketball team enters the 2006-07 season with a bull’s eye on its back, having captured the North Atlantic Conference Championship a season ago and returning its top two players this season.  With high expectations once again, the Beavers begin the season with talent and depth at every position.  As much as things may have changed with the Beavers’ first-ever NCAA Tournament bid last season, the core values that have led to success remain unchanged.  Read more

Click here for the 2006 NCAA Tournament photo gallery

2006 Alumnae Game Participants