For three years in high school, Sarah Talon and Emmie Streams were adversaries for their respective Class AA North schools. Talon played for Windham High School and Streams for Bangor High School.
On Monday night, the University of Maine teammates combined for a key 3-pointer that closed out the third period and expanded UMaine’s lead to 10 over Binghamton in its America East semifinal at Memorial Gym in Orono.
Second seed UMaine went on to beat the Bearcats 60-56 to earn a berth in Friday’s 5 p.m. championship game against top seed Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.
Vermont beat the University of Maryland Baltimore County 68-65 in double overtime.
UMaine built a 41-30 lead in the third quarter, but two straight baskets by Binghamton’s Kendall Bennett and Bella Pucci pulled the Bearcats within seven.
With the final seconds of the period winding down, Talon missed a jump shot, but the long rebound came to Streams, one of the smallest players on the court at 5-foot-4.
Streams, with her back to the basket, made a short pass back to Talon, and she drained a three as the clock expired.
“It was definitely a momentum-changer, especially in their environment. They definitely feed off it,” said Binghamton coach Mary Grimes.
“Any time you can be up by any points in the playoffs it’s good,” said UMaine head coach Amy Vachon. “It gave us momentum going into the fourth quarter. Every point matters in these games and when you hit a shot like that it really helps.”
Talon, a senior guard, finished with 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, an assist and a blocked shot. She hit two vital free throws with 13 seconds left to expand the lead to 58-53.
Talon began the season hitting just six of her first 17 free throws, but she has improved her foul shooting significantly. She will take a 60.2 percent free throw shooting percentage into the Vermont game.
She is shooting 67.6 percent from the charity stripe over the last 10 games.
“I just try to stay focused, being where my feet are and just knocking them down,” said Talon. “I know we need it. I’ve been in that situation before and I just went up there and knocked them down.”
Talon is having an exceptional senior season and is on a streak of five consecutive games with double-digit points, the longest of her career.
She is averaging 15.2 points over her last five contests.
It was a memorable last game at the Memorial Gym for Talon and fellow seniors Adrianna Smith and Asta Blauenfeldt.
Fifth-year senior Smith, chosen as the America East Player of the Year for the second time in her career, had game-highs in points (26) and rebounds (12), a co-game high three steals and four assists and held Binghamton scoring leader Kendall Bennett to eight points, seven below her average.
Blauenfeldt had eight points, three assists and a steal.
“I’ll remember how we came out today, us seniors, and showed the respect we have for this place and the fans with our effort,” Smith said.
“Sarah [Talon] from the jump had crazy energy and we really fed off of that in the beginning,” Smith added. “And just being out here and being able to put a great game on for our fans means a lot and that’s what I’ll remember. The atmosphere, the environment and the support that we have had when we play here.”
In looking ahead to Friday’s final, the teams split regular season meetings with each winning on the road.
Vermont won in Orono 64-53 on Jan. 15, before UMaine dealt Vermont one of its only two home losses on Feb. 5, 55-46.
UVM is 13-2 at its Patrick Gymnasium this season. UMaine is 7-8 on the road but has won four of its last six.
This will be the ninth time the teams have met in a conference championship game and each has won four times with the last one coming in 2024 when UMaine triumphed 64-48 in Orono.
They have met 12 times in the post-season with UMaine holding an 8-4 advantage.
UMaine has won 10 conference titles and Vermont has won eight including two in the last three seasons. Vermont beat Albany 62-55 in last year’s championship game.