Box Score Bangor, ME – The Husson University women's basketball team defeated the New England College Pilgrims in a thrilling North Atlantic Conference game by a final score of 67-58. With the win, head coach Kissy Walker has now reached 400 career wins in her illustrious career as a head coach. Husson moves to .500 at 6-6 (5-2 in conference) overall on the season, while the Pilgrims drop to .500 at 7-7 (4-4 in conference) overall.
The first half saw New England College lead most of the half until Amanda Johnson (Skowhegan, Maine) hit a jumper just inside the 3-point line in the left corner to give the Eagles a 22-21 lead. They would relinquish that lead only a minute later when Kayla Lawlor (Cocoa Beach, Florida) hit a jumper from almost the same spot to give the Pilgrims a lead they would take into the break. When the first half's final buzzer sounded, the score would be 32-27 in favor of New England College.
Johnson tallied 8 points in the opening half to lead the Eagles, and was also the leading rebounder with 2. She also collected a pair of steals. For the Pilgrims, Katarina Muska (Brimfield, Massachusetts) led the charge with 8 points of her own, shooting a perfect 3-3 from the field, two of which were 3-pointers. Taylor Burgess (Randallstown, Maryland) also had a solid half for New England College, tallying 7 points and collecting a game high 6 rebounds, 5 of which were defensive.
The second half of play saw a dominating effort from New England College's Burgess, who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, to pace the Pilgrims. Husson had trouble containing her, as she collecting multiple second chance points of offensive rebounds, but with 8:51 to go in the contest, the Eagles regained the lead when Johnson hit another clutch layup on a tough drive down the left alley, giving them a 50-49 lead. After a pair of free throws to tie it all 54 by Jasmine Rayford (Baltimore, Maryland), Victoria McIntyre (Mars Hill, Maine) hit a huge 3-pointer to give the Eagles a lead they would never give back. Husson would ride the momentum all the way until the final buzzer to pick up their 5th conference win, keeping them at third in the NAC.
Chandler Guerette (Presque Isle, Maine) led the Eagles with 17 points. Johnson finished with 13 points, and Rebecca Young (Concord, Vermont) added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
For New England College, Burgess was the leading scorer and rebounder, and Lawlor chipped in with 9 points and an impressive 7 steals.
"I'm proud of how tough the girls hung in there. NEC played tough man to man defense, we had a number of people in foul trouble, and we kept battling," said Coach Walker.
The Husson women will travel an hour south to Waterville to take on the Colby College Mules on Tuesday the 21st at 5:30 PM. New England College takes on conference rival Castleton State Tuesday the 21st as well at 5:30 PM also in Vermont.
