STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (5-0) upended University of Maine-Farmington (0-4), 69-37, in non-conference women's basketball action at the Harold Alfond Center on Monday evening. Freshman guard Hayley Quirion (Augusta, Maine) was 4-6 from three-point distance and netted 12 points in the decisive triumph.
The Monks, who never trailed in tonight's contest, opened play with a 10-2 run and held a 21-6 advantage after sophomore guard Abbie Eastman (Norway, Maine) drilled a three with 12:37 remaining in the first half. The Beavers countered with five unanswered points, but the comeback effort was short-lived as the Royal Blue rattled off 17 straight points as part of a 24-11 effort en route to securing a 45-17 lead heading into intermission.
Down by a 52-22 score after SJC sophomore guard Emily Kehoe (Perkinsville, Vt.) drained a trifecta with 16:16 left to play, the Beavers showed signs of life with a 12-2 surge, as senior guard Lindsay Ranquist (Owls Head, Maine) capped the run with a layup, making it a 54-34 contest with 9:19 remaining.
Maine-Farmington would not close the gap any further, however, as Saint Joseph's maintained control for the duration and outscored the Beavers by a 15-3 margin during the closing nine-plus minutes to account for the 69-37 final.
For the Monks, junior center Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) tallied 12 points and seven rebounds, Eastman netted nine points with three boards, Kehoe totaled eight points, eight caroms and three assists, and sophomore forward Molly Mack (Portland, Maine/McAuley) contributed eight points and six rebounds. Freshman forward Regan McFerran (Albany, N.Y.) chipped in with seven points and six boards and first-year forward Brianna Holdren (Portland, Maine) added six points and a pair of rebounds in six minutes off the bench.
For the Beavers, sophomore forward Kennadi Grover (Cushing, Maine) poured in a team-high 12 points with five rebounds, junior forward Elizabeth Ferry (Winslow, Maine) tallied 10 points and seven boards, and junior forward Meghan Smith (Boothbay, Maine) contributed six points and seven caroms in a losing effort.
Saint Joseph's held considerable advantages in rebounds (56-33), assists (15-9), points off turnovers (31-12), second-chance points (26-10) and bench points (30-19) on the evening.
With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 39-29 all-time versus Maine-Farmington and has now defeated the Beavers in five-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2010-11 campaign.
Saint Joseph's returns to the hardwood this Sunday when the Monks face off against Southern Maine in the Annual Costello Cup game. Tip-off in Gorham is slated for 5:30 PM. Maine-Farmington hosts Maine Maritime Academy at 5:30 PM on Sunday.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
