Photo Credit Meriden Photography Studio
Mariners Advance to Third-Straight NAC Championship Game
[BOX SCORE] CASTINE, Maine – The two-time defending NAC champion Maine Maritime Academy (23-4) will return to the NAC Women’s Basketball Championship game after defeating Husson University (15-12), 88-59, in Saturday's NAC East Division Championship.
The Mariners got the ball rolling quick in the first frame of the conference semifinal contest, outscoring Husson 33-7 and shooting 63.2 percent from field goal range (12-of-19) and 70 percent (7-of-10) from the three-point line. Evelyn Dagan and Erianna Moore scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the quarter.
The Eagles struggled to connect during the first quarter but were able to find their footing throughout the remainder of the contest, even outscoring Maine Maritime 17-14 in the final frame.
Maine Maritime ended the contest shooting 55.7 percent (34-for-61) from the floor, 53.8 percent from behind the arc (14-for-26), and 50 percent from the charity stripe (6-for-12). The Mariners outrebounded Husson 43-30, scoring 36 points in the paint and 17 off turnovers.
Moore led the Mariners’ offense with a season-high 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, while adding eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Dagan contributed 17 points, four rebounds, and an assist, while Hailey Blanchard (14 points, two rebounds, two assists) and Sydney Briscoe (12 points, team-high nine rebounds, three assists, two steals) also scored in double figures.
Husson’s Hannah Richards and Jordyn Lengle were the Eagles' top scorers with Richards ending her stat sheet with 15 points and an assist. Lengle finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Teammate Trinity Montigny led the Eagles in rebounds with seven.
The Mariners will travel to Cobleskill, New York to faceoff against NAC West Division winner SUNY Cobleskill (23-4) in the championship contest on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Maine Maritime looks to add to their hardware and go for a third-straight NAC title.