BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University women's basketball team used an 18-4 second quarter scoring advantage and a career-high 18 points from senior Laela Martinez to defeat the defending North Atlantic Conference champions SUNY Cobleskill on Tuesday evening inside Newman Gymnasium by a final score of 72-53.
The opening quarter was a game of runs between Cobleskill (6-5, 4-3 NAC) and Husson (6-5, 5-2 NAC), as the Fighting Tigers opened the game with the first five points, before the Eagles quickly answered with the next seven to lead 7-5 just over four minutes into the contest.
Cobleskill then tallied a 10-2 run to gain a 17-9 advantage, but Husson would get a three from sophomore Lilly Roy and a pair of free throws from fellow second-year Saige Evans to get back within 17-14 at the end of one period.
The Eagles were able to carry that late momentum from the opening quarter into the second period, as they tallied the first seven points of the period behind a three-pointer from sophomore Aubrey Kachnovich and four foul shots from Roy, while also outscoring the Fighting Tigers 11-1 over the final 6:39 of the half after Cobleskill got to within 21-20.
Husson further extended its lead in the third quarter with a 19-11 scoring advantage over the Fighting Tigers, while both teams scored an identical 21 points in the final quarter, allowing the Eagles to pick up its fifth conference win of the season.
Martinez led the way for Husson with a career-best 18 points, while also adding a career-high nine rebounds to go along with a team-high four assists.
Evans recorded her fourth double-double of the year with a 17-point, 14-rebound game, including seven offensive boards, while Roy and freshman Abby Radel recorded 10 points each.
Husson held a commanding 48-33 edge on the glass for the game and assisted on 16 of its 24 made field goals, while shooting 41.4% for the game and 16-19 from the foul line.
The Eagles will head to Vermont for a two-game road trip this weekend, beginning with a game at Vermont State University Johnson on Saturday at 3 p.m.
