GORHAM, ME – University of Southern Maine (4-0) defeated Saint Joseph's College (2-1), 67-52, in a non-conference women's basketball contest on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Southern Maine earns the rights to the Costello Cup, presented annually to the winner of the contest between the two schools. Contested over the past 24 years, the Costello Cup honors the late Dr. Richard "Doc" Costello, former USM Athletic Director and long-time basketball coach.
Despite a sub-par 39.7 (25-for-63) shooting percentage, the Huskies managed to walk away with their fourth straight victory, limiting the Monks to a 34.0% (17-for-50) performance from the field while forcing 31 turnovers and grabbing 17 steals.
With the shooting woes starting in early in the game, USM led by three, 21-18, with less than 10 minutes left in the half. USM was able to open up the game on a 15-5 run to close out the half and grab a 36-23 lead. Junior Erin McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) paced the Huskies in the opening frame, scoring 11 of her 12 points by shooting 4-6 from the field including a pair of three-pointers. Nicole Garland (Portland, Maine) added nine of her 12 in the first half.
The Huskies looked to take control of the game early in the second half on back-to-back layups from Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Maine) and Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine/McAuley) for a 40-23 lead with 18:21 remaining, but the Monks countered with an 8-0 run to pull to within nine, 40-31. Three-pointers from senior guard Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) and junior guard Mackenzie Dufour (Augusta, Maine) bookended a layup from freshman center Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) to give the Monks a three-possession disadvantage with 16:23 on the clock.
The teams traded punches over the next two and a half minutes and the Monks trailed by 12, 48-36, after a pair of free throws from Shufelt, but the Huskies rattled off a 9-0 run to grab their largest lead of the game, 57-36, with 7:32 to play. Four players contributed to the run, led by three points each from Jordan and junior forward Nash Biliew (Portland, Maine).
The Huskies were never threatened the rest of the way and led by as many as 21 points, 65-44, with 2:29 to play before the Monks used a 8-2 run to close out the game for the 67-52 final.
For the Monks, Shufelt put up 10 points and sophomore guard Sarah Assante (Standish, Maine) tallied 10 points and three steals. Cahill added seven points, nine caroms and a pair of blocked shots, senior forward Alyssa Grigware (Biddeford, Maine) left the bench to score seven points, and Dufour contributed seven points and three boards in a losing effort.
For the Huskies, Knight tallied 12 points and nine rebounds, McNamara posted 12 points, four assists and three boards, Garland registered 12 points, four caroms and three steals, and Jordan also netted 12 with three rebounds. Jordan Grant (Concord, N.H.) added nine points and a game-high 10 boards and Biliew left the pine to contribute eight points and five rebounds.
Saint Joseph's will play at Husson University on Thursday at 5:30 PM while Southern Maine travels to Bowdoin College on Tuesday for a 7:00 PM tip-off.
COURTESY OF USM SPORTS INFORMATION
Saint Joseph's College, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, celebrates its Centennial year in 2012 with a theme of "Realize the Promise" – honoring our commitment to educating well-rounded graduates who combine career focus with classic liberal arts studies. A Private, Catholic, primarily residential, coeducational liberal arts institution, Saint Joseph's welcomes students of all ages and all faiths. The campus, located 18 miles northwest of Portland and just two hours from Boston, encompasses 350 acres along the shore of beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. Enrollment ranges between 1,000 and 1,100 students annually. Saint Joseph's offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, nursing and business fields in a value-centered environment.
