BANGOR, Maine - The 2016 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Player of the Year Victoria McIntyre  scored a game-high 20 points help propel Husson to a 69-55 win over New England College (NEC) in a NAC Championship semifinal match-up on Friday afternoon inside Newman Gym to advance to their first NAC Championship final in five years.

Husson (20-6) records its first 20 win season since 2004, while New England College (19-8) drops its first postseason game to the Eagles and falls to 8-7 in the all-time series.

The Pilgrims opened up the scoring with a layup from Marjani Lillard, but a jump shot from Rebecca Young spark a 20-6 run by the Eagles to close out the first quarter. The Eagles were led by Kenzie Worcester who record six points, one assist, and one steal while McIntyre added five points for the Eagles. Utshanna Durham had four points for the Pilgrims in the quarter.

The visitors opened the 2nd quarter on an 8-2 run, which included six points from Lillard to cut the Husson lead to six with 7:57 remaining in the half. The Eagles would extend their lead to ten with 3:50 left thanks to buckets by Worcester and Joan Overman however the Pilgrims would closed out the 1st half on 6-4 run as Husson took a 32-26 lead into intermission.

Worcester and McIntyre led the Eagles with 12 and seven first half points, respectively, and Young and Anna MacKenzie each had three rebounds. Lillard led the Pilgrims with 10 points and Durham had eight points while Breanna Ramirez led the field with six first half rebounds.

Young scored the first four points of second half as Husson lead 36-26 with 8:03 left in the third. NEC continued to cut into the deficit over the next two minutes and came within four, but a three by Worcester at 5:49 extend the lead back to seven. The teams traded baskets over the final five minutes as Husson took a 50-43 lead into the 4th quarter. Darla Morales led all scorers in the quarter with seven points each, while Young and Lillard added six points each.

A Lillard free throw closed Husson's lead to eight with 5:47 remaining in the game, but the Pilgrims could not come back from the deficit as the Eagles closed out the game with a 11-5 run to secure the 69-55 victory in the fourth straight postseason matchup between the two schools. McIntyre led all scorers in the quarter with 13 points.

McIntyre finished with one assist and eight rebounds to go along with her 20 points, while Worcester added 19 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Morales contributed eight points to the Husson Offense.

For the Pilgrims, Lillard record a double-double with a team-high 19 points and ten boards while adding six steals. Durham contributed 10 points, and Ramirez recorded ten boards.

Husson will host second seeded Castleton University on Saturday, February 27 to determine who will receive the NAC's automatic qualifier into the 2016 NCAA DIII Championship Tournament. The Spartans defeated third seeded Maine Maritime earlier in the day by a score of 69-55. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.