WATERVILLE, Maine --- The Husson University Eagles fell to the Colby Mules 62-59 in the Division III NCAA tournament at Colby's Wadsworth Gymnasium.  The Eagles end their historic season with a perfect 16-0 North Atlantic Conference run culminating in an NAC Championship and an overall record of 19-9.

The Mules moved to 24-4 overall with their 62-59 first round win. Colby will take on Babson College following a 76-56 win over Emmanuel College.

Colby received 12 points and 16 rebounds from sophomore Rachael Mack (Augusta, Maine).  Aarika Ritchie (Lee, Maine) had a team-high 13 points for the Mules while Diana Manduca (Portland, Maine) chipped in with 12 points.

Shelby Bradford (Lee, Maine), playing in her final game for Husson, had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 steals. Fellow seinor Lindsay Barnes (Owls Head, ME) contributed 7 points and 5 rebounds in her final game.  Brianna Hanscom (Mattawamkeag, Maine) added eight points and 10 rebounds, followed by Noelle Lincoln (Jr., Dixmont, ME) with 8 points.

The teams battled back-and-forth in the first half before the Mules took a 33-28 lead at intermission. Husson battled to take a 49-46 lead when Marissa Albert (Fort Kent, Maine) nailed a 3-point shot with 8:31 to play. The Mules collected a lay-up from Manduca and an inside basket from Mack to take a 50-49 lead with 7:02 that Colby would not relinquish.

The Mules appeared to have the game in hand with a 58-51 lead with 1:10 to play. Husson fought back once again on a 3-point shot by Noelle Lincoln with 51 seconds.  Amanda Gifford (Lee, Maine) nailed two free throws with 42 seconds left to cut the margin to 58-56. Samantha Allen (Bridgton, Maine), who also struggled offensively, nailed arguably the biggest shot of her collegiate career when she gave the Mules a 60-56 lead with a jumper with 17 seconds left.

Once again, the Eagles would not quit and hit a 3-point shot from Gifford with 5.3 seconds to play to cut the lead to 60-59. Allen was fouled with 3.3 seconds left and made 1-for-2 from the foul line. Manduca hit one of her two free throws on a technical and Colby retained possession as to run out the clock and end the game.