GORHAM, Maine – Seniors Stephanie Gallagher (York, Maine) and Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine/McAuley) each scored five points in the overtime period as the University of Southern Maine Huskies outscored the Saint Joseph's College Monks 12-4 in the extra period to earn a 65-57 in a non-conference women's basketball game Sunday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 3-2 and retains possession of the Costello Cup for the third consecutive season. Southern Maine leads the Costello Cup series with Saint Joseph's College 21-4 and the overall series between the two schools 41-6. Saint Joseph's suffers its first loss of the season to dip to 5-1.
Junior Megan Pelletier (Winslow, Maine/Messalonskee) controlled the tip in overtime and scored the Huskies' first basket with a short jumper in the paint for the Huskies to take a 55-53 lead. After Pelletier's basket, scoring took a break for both sides before Gallagher hit a pivotal three-pointer off of an assist from junior Ella Ramonas (Portland, Maine/Deering) for a 58-53 lead with 2:17 to play. After another extended break in the scoring, Gallagher and Knight were sent to the free throw line each knocking down a pair for a 62-53 lead. A pair of free throws from SJC sophomore Emily Kehoe (Perkinsville, Vt./Lebanon) broke up the Husky run, before Knight closed out the game making 3-of-4 to seal the win.
Ramonas and Pelletier were instrumental in lead the Husky comeback. Ramonas finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots, while Pelletier posted her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Taylor Flood (Sanford, Maine) added 11 points, while Gallagher chipped in with nine. Knight finished with five points, nine rebounds and three assists.
SJC junior Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) led all scorers with 22 points on a 10-21 effort from the field. Cahill added a team-high 10 rebounds for the double-double. Kehoe added 13 points as the only other Monk in double-figures.
After committing an uncharacteristic 14 turnovers in the first half, the Huskies found themselves in a hole trialing SJC 26-21 at the break. Cahill had 10 points to lead the Monks who scored 14 of their 26 first half points off of USM miscues. The Monks led by as many as 10 points midway through the first half.
Sophomore Molly Mack (Portland, Maine/McAuley) extended the Monks' lead to eight connecting on a three-pointer in the first possession of the second half before USM rallied to take its first lead since the opening five minutes of the game. The Huskies outscored SJC 15-4 over a seven-minute span to grab the slimmest of leads 36-35 with 12:01 to play. Ramonas was huge in the run scoring nine consecutive points, while Pelletier tallied the go-ahead basket on a pick-and-roll assist from freshman Kayla Stacy (Auburn, N.H./Pinkerton Academy).
Both teams exchanged blows and the lead over the next several plays and Monks led by four 53-49 with 1:39 to play as senior guard Sarah Assante (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) knocked down two free throws. Flood made it a two-point game converting an assist from Gallagher in the open court. On the Monks' next possession, Pelletier came up with a steal and Gallagher hit two free throws to tie the game at 53 following a technical foul being assessed to the SJC bench sending the game into overtime.
Southern Maine travels to Bowdoin on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference game. Saint Joseph's hosts Colby College on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) also for a non-conference match-up.
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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.
