The Husson University women’s basketball team has won the last five North Atlantic Conference Tournament championships.
Number six isn’t going to be easy.
That’s because the Eagles will have to do it on the road since Maine Maritime Academy defeated Husson in Castine last Saturday, which earned the Mariners the right to host the four-team East Division Tournament that gets underway on Friday.
MMA and Husson wound up tied with 9-1 conference records but MMA had a better overall record at 19-3 compared with Husson’s 16-5.
Top seed MMA will face fifth seed Northern Vermont-Lyndon (10-11, 1-8) at 5:30 p.m. Friday with Husson taking on third seed the University of Maine at Presque Isle (13-9, 5-5) at 7:30 p.m.
The championship game will be on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The winner will travel to take on the West Division champ the following Saturday.
Husson University head coach Kissy Walker said fatigue was a factor in the loss at MMA but her team has bounced back in practice this week.
“That was our seventh game in 12 days. We were a little flat,” Walker said. “But we gave the girls two days off and they have been energetic in practice. We are going to need to shoot the ball well and play better defense than we did on Saturday.”
Husson beat UMPI 88-54 and 66-45 in December while MMA posted 89-39 and 78-71 victories over Northern Vermont-Lyndon.
Husson has been led by 6-foot-3 center Bailey Donovan, who was named the NAC’s Player of the Year after averaging 20.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and two blocked shots per game. The former Hampden Academy All-Stater’s 65.1 percent shooting percentage leads the nation’s Division III programs.
She has been complemented by Vanessa Duarte (11.5 ppg, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals), Garland’s Megan Peach (8.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Smyrna Mills’ Makaelyn Porter (7.7 ppg, 2.3 apg).
NAC Coach of the Year Craig Dagan and his Mariners have been spearheaded by Hermon senior forward Lauren Plissey, the NAC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Her 3.18 blocks per game is tied for fourth best in the country.
She is also averaging 10.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game along with 3.2 assists.
Donovan and Plissey were All-NAC first team selections.
A strong supporting cast consists of Calais’ Lauren Cook (13.1 ppg), Maria Barela (12.1 ppg, 2.8 apg), Erianna Moore (9.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.2 apg) and All-NAC second teamer Makenzie Monzon (9.3 ppg, 4.6 apg).
All-NAC second teamer Emily Wheaton from Presque Isle and Lexi Ireland from Howland have been the difference-makers for UMPI.
Wheaton is averaging 14.3 ppg to go with 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds. Ireland has averaged 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Paige Espling of Caribou (8.7 ppg, 7 rpg) and Rebecca Davila (7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg) have also been important contributors.
The Hornets from Northern Vermont-Lyndon feature Lea Crompton (15.9 ppg, 4.1 apg), Riann Fortin (11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Sage Smith (9.2 ppg) and Faith Poirier (8 ppg).
Duarte, Crompton, Cook, Peach and Ireland were All-NAC honorable mentions.