BANGOR, Maine — Kenzie Worcester scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds on Saturday afternoon at Husson University used strong defense to earn a 58-51 victory over Maine Maritime Academy in the North Atlantic Conference women’s basketball championship game at Newman Gym.
Coach Kissy Walker’s Eagles (19-8) claimed their fourth consecutive league title and earned another trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.
The Mariners of Castine finish their season at 19-7.
Husson built the win around its defense, limiting MMA to 12 points in the second and third quarters combined while manufacturing a 36-23 lead through three quarters that it made stand up.
Megan Peach scored 14 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for the winners, who received 14 points from Vanessa Duarte. The Eagles went 22-for-37 from the foul line.
Alayne Felix paced a balanced offensive effort by the Mariners with 13 points, while Megan McLean tallied 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and Lauren Plissey posted 11 points and eight rebounds.
MMA outrebounded Husson 40-38 and went 11-for-15 from the foul line.
The Eagles shut down the Mariners for the better part of the middle two periods. MMA shot 4-for-25 from the field in those 20 minutes, including 0-for-9 from the 3-point arc.
Husson expanded its 22-17 halftime lead with a 19-4 run that all but put the game away.
Worcester opened the period with a 3-pointer and a jumper, before MMA’s Felix answered with a jumper. After a Joan Overman free throw, Peach sandwiched a layup and a jump shot around McLean’s basket, then Worcester added two free throws to give Husson a 36-21 advantage with 1:40 to play in the quarter.
MMA rallied within six (45-39) on Plissey’s jumper with 2:34 left in the game, but Duarte went 3-for-4 from the foul line, then Worcester added two more to help secure the victory.