BANGOR, Maine – In what was the abbreviated-season finale for both programs, Husson University (6-1) edged Saint Joseph's College (5-1), 72-67, in NCAA DIII Women's Basketball action on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Eagles came out red hot in the first quarter, shooting 5-for-9 from behind the three-point arc. Led by eight points each from Vanessa Duarte and Makaelyn Porter, the Eagles raced out to a 25-17 lead to end the first period. The scoring binge was the highest first quarter point total of the season, and second highest point total in any quarter overall on the year.
Husson continued to roll in the second, knocking down three more three-pointers, and at one point getting seven-straight points from Cassie Urso off the bench, on the way to a 43-27 halftime lead.
The Monks fought back in the third, trimming Husson's lead to eleven at 58-47, when Alyson Fillion banked a three-pointer as time expired. The shot seemed to swing all the momentum to St. Joe's as the Monks went on a 15-3 run to start the fourth, taking a 62-61 lead on Cassandra Stapelfeld's wide three with less than five minutes to play. Two free throws from Katherine Alley put Husson back on top, but Stapelfeld answered with another shot from behind the arc, giving the Monks back the lead, 65-63, with 2:45 remaining. After a Porter driving layup tied the score, the Eagles regained a 67-65 edge on Urso's baseline jumper with 1:40 to go.
Again, Stapelfeld responded for the Monks, as her drive to the basket tied the score at 67 apiece. The layup was the last of fourteen straight points in the quarter for Stapelfeld. With just under a minute to play, K. Alley worked her way into the lane, and managed to get a tough, spinning left hander to fall in and push the Eagles back in front, 69-67. With 42 seconds left in the game, the Monks had another chance to pull even but missed two free throws, and Cassie Urso hit a dagger three-pointer to put the game out of reach, banking it in from the top of the key just as the shot clock expired. Husson took a five-point lead into the final ten seconds, on the way to a thrilling, 72-67, win to finish out the season.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Sophomore Jayne Howe led all scorers with 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds
- Stapelfeld added 14 points with four boards
- Fillion netted 13 points with three caroms and a pair of assists
- Senior Jordan Jabar pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds and scored eight points
LEADERS – HUSSON:
- Cassie Urso came off the bench to score 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range
- Katherine Alley scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor while going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe
- Makaelyn Porter shot 4-for-6 from three-point range and netted 16 points
THANKS IN LARGE PART TO HUSSON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
