12/8/07

Women's basketball lets lead get away

BIDDEFORD -- The University of Maine at Farmington women's basketball team let a 12-point halftime lead slip away as the Beavers dropped to 3-4 with a 76-72 loss to the University of New England at the Campus Center.

Winners of five straight, the Nor'easters improved to 5-3, while the Beavers dropped to 3-4.

Farmington lit it up from long range to establish its 43-31 cushion at intermission. Five different Farmington players nailed shots from beyond the arc in the frame, helping the visitors shoot six of 12 from deep. Ashley Busque (Belgrade, ME) was 5 for 6 from the floor -- including a jumper at the buzzer -- en route to 10 first-half points.

The Nor'easters utilized a 17-3 run to erase the deficit and take a 48-46 lead at 13:23 in the second half. After Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, ME) scored from close range to draw Farmington even at 48, UNE took control by going on a 16-3 spurt. The lead crested at 68-54 with 6:36 left to play before the Beavers came racing back to pull to 71-68 with 1:05 remaining. The Nor'easters made five of six free-throw attempts over the final 33 seconds to help stymie the Farmington comeback bid.

Alli Gamache (Dudley, MA) finished with a team-high 15 points to lead the way for the winners. Gamache made three 3-point field goals to go with four assists and three steals. Marissa Hesketh (Tolland, CT) scored 14 points as did Katie Diggins (Merrimack, NH), who pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and handed out four assists.

Laflin scored a game-high 20 points and added nine boards for the Beavers. Amanda Byrne (Winslow, ME) and Samantha Wiley (Lincolnville, ME) had 13 points apiece, while Busque ended with 12 points and nine caroms.

Box score