Box Score Bangor, ME – In a game that saw three players scoring over 20 points each, the Husson University women's basketball team made some significant defensive adjustments at halftime to beat Thomas College Tuesday night 84-71.
Fresh off scoring her 1,000th point this past weekend, Brianna Hanscom poured in 31 points and grabbed 11 boards to lead the Eagles to the North Atlantic Conference win. Hanscom went 12 for 16 from the floor and shot 7 of 8 from the charity stripe to lead the Eagle squad to victory. Fellow senior, Marissa Albert also added 22 points of her own shooting 6 of 8 from the three point line to ignite the small home crowd.
The Terriers saw a strong effort from senior Karin Bird who scored 25 of her team-leading 27 points in the first half. Bird seemingly couldn't miss in the first, draining all six threes she attempted and went 9 for 11 overall from the floor. The Eagles made a concerted effort coming out of halftime to stop Bird, who only hit two free-throws in the second stanza. Sophomore Elizabeth Goodall added 10 points along with Junior Ashley Matchett who had 11 of her own.
The contest got off to a slow start, but Husson was able to build a ten point, 13-3 lead, five and a half minutes in. Bird took control for the Terriers, however, as the lead would change hands several times within the last 10 minutes of the first. With the score tied at 32 with under five minutes left, Hanscom and Albert combined for the final 16 points of the frame for Husson, who led 48-38 at the half.
Husson came out of the break on all cylinders with the combination of Hanscom, Albert and senior Amanda Gifford, who added 12 points and five assists, to build the Eagle lead to 25 with under 13 minutes to go.
Coach Kissy Walker's squad wouldn't look back with help of the bench to solidify the 13 point win and improve to 5-1 in the NAC.
Husson will travel to Vermont this weekend to take on Lyndon State and Johnson state and will be back in the friendly confines of Newman Gymnasium Thursday January 19th at 7:30pm to take on the University of Maine Farmington. Thomas' next contests will also be Farmington on Saturday the 14th and U. Maine Fort Kent the 15th.
