Box Score Husson played host to North Atlantic Conference rival Maine Maritime and fell to the Mariners 72-59. Samantha Goda drew first blood for the Mariners, and on the next possession added another lay-up to start off the game with a quick 4 points. Maine Maritime scored the first 7 points before Caitlyn Butterfield hit a short jumper to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. The next time down the floor, Husson added another quick put-back by Noelle Lincoln to cut the score down to 7-4.
Husson couldn't control the Mariners early, with the largest MMA lead coming with 5:02 left in the first half when they lead by 19. On the Eagles' next possession Lincoln hit a deep three to dial the Eagles in, trailing 21-9. Husson got back-to-back three-point shots by Lincoln and Gifford a short time later to cut the Maritime lead to 30-17
The first half ended with a 33-19 Mariner lead. MMA was lead by Goda at the half, who racked up 10 points and 6 boards in the first frame. Jess Stahl was close behind her with 9 points and 5 rebounds of her own. Noelle Lincoln lead the way for the Eagles with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Maine Maritime outshot Husson by a difference of 48% to 22%.
Goda opened the second half much like the first with a layup to extend the Mariner lead and was answered by a three-pointer from Amanda Gifford.
Husson continued to hang around, thanks in large part to the efforts of Amanda Gifford and Stephanie Comstock. Comstock was everywhere, pulling down rebounds on both ends of the floor. Her aggression was rewarded with 13 rebounds on the game, to go along with her 16 points.
The Mariners stretched the lead to 20 with just under 7 and a half to play. When Marissa Albert was fouled going for a loose ball, she hit the front end of the 1-1 but missed the second, Comstock got the rebound and put it back for a 3 point play for the Eagles. As MMA took the ball down the court, Comstock took a charge at half court, and went to the line and hit both free throws. The next time Husson had the ball, sevey hit a 3 from the left wing to cut the lead to 52-39 just outside of 6 minutes to go.
Maine Maritime hit a free-throw line 2 of their own on the next possession, which was answered by a Gifford layup. She was fouled and made the shot from the line to make 3 the hard way, cutting the lead to 13. MMA split from the line with their next possession, and the Eagles answered with a Gifford 3 to cut the lead to 11.
When the Mariners drove up the court, Amanda Gifford plowed through a Goda screen, sending her to the line, where she hit both free throws. Gifford split her foul shots the next time down the court, at the 3 minute mark, the eagles trailed by 12.
With time waning down, the Eagles began trading trips to the line for good looks on the offensive end. Caitlin Butterfield fouled out with 2:07 left, finishing the game with 4 points. That sent Goda to the line, making the first but missing the second, Leah Jackson grabbed the rebound, her 4th in a matter of minutes, giving the Mariners an extra possession. Maine Maritime lost the handle, and the ball went out of bounds, leading to a Comstock layup to cut the lead to 10 with 1:39 left. Sevey fouled Katie Pushard who split from the line, and when the Eagles took the ball down the court, and Gifford found Comstock who layed it in and made her free throw, cutting the lead to 8. Gab Duke fouled Pushard who made both shots, Gifford's baseline lay in didn't hit home, and when Casey McCloskey pulled down the rebound, she was immediately fouled, and split from the line. Comstock pulled down an offensive rebound, and put back the lay-up to cut the lead back down to 9 with 43 seconds left.
The eagles fouled Pushard, who made both from the line. After a sevey miss from 3, and a rebound from Pushard, she was fouled again, and once again was perfect from the stripe. Pushard finished the game with 9 points, 6 of which came from the stripe. Husson did not concede when the shot clock was turned off, as Sevey found another good look from deep, which sailed harmlessly by the rim. As the errant shot fell, so did the Eagles, 72-59.
MMA's Samantha Goda led all scorers with 20 points, and just one off her double double, as she finished with 9 in the rebound column. Maggie Smith added 19 points, and Jess Stahl was also in double digits with 11, she too missed her double double with 9 boards on the night. Gifford lead the way for the Eagles with 19 points and 5 assists. Bethany Sevey quietly amassed 11 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
Coach Walker had this to say about her opponents, "MMA came ready to play and they played excellent defense." She went on to talk about her own team's effort, "We struggled to get any offensive rhythm until about 10 minutes left in the game."
