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NEXT GAME
HOME OPENER
Bates College vs. Southern Maine
Tuesday, November 24 (5:30 p.m.)
Hill Gymnasium Gorham, Maine
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
Huskies Run Past UMaine Farmington 64-34, Capture UMF Tip Off Tournament
FARMINGTON, Maine – Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) scored a
game-high 17 points, including five three-pointers, and freshman forward Curran
Leighton (Londonderry, N.H.) recorded her first career double-double with 10
points and 10 rebounds to lead the nationally-ranked University of Southern
Maine Huskies to a 64-34 win over the UMaine Farmington Beavers in the
championship game of the 2009 UMF Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon at
Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington, Maine.
Earning their second win in a row, Southern Maine improves to 2-1 overall.
UMaine Farmington evens out to 1-1 with the loss.
DeMillo scored 14 of her 17 points in the first half as the Huskies held a
slim 29-22 lead at the break. The 5-7 guard was 5-for-8 from the field in the
opening stanza and 4-7 from three-point range.
Holding onto its seven-point advantage heading into the second half, USM
outscored the Beavers 35-12 in the second half. Senior forward Haley Johnson
(West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half,
while Leighton netted six and grabbed eight of her game-high 10 rebounds.
Leading by 12, 41-29, with 14:16 to play following a lay-up from UMF junior
forward Brittany York (Strong, Maine), Southern Maine held the Beavers scoreless
over 10 minutes and added a 13-0 run to its total to take a commanding 54-29
lead with 4:48 to play. Things did not improve for UMF, over the final 4:48,
however, as they made just two more baskets, as the Huskies closed the game with
a 10-4 run.
Junior guard Ashley Busque (Belgrade, Maine) led UMF with eight points.
Senior forward Caitlyn Laflin (Farmingdale, Maine) added seven points and six
rebounds.
Southern Maine scored 23 of its 64 points off of turnovers in the game
snagging 17 steals and forcing UMF into 26 turnovers. Sophomore guard Renee
Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) and Leighton each had five steals and
DeMillo had four.
USM senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) was named the
tournament’s Most Valuable Player. DeMillo joined Paradis on the all-tournament
team for the Huskies. UMF’s Laflin and sophomore forward Paige Saunders (Surry,
Maine) each were named to the all-tournament team joined by UMaine Presque
Isle’s Emily Pelletier (Fort Kent, Maine) and Curry College’s Liz Forte
(Rutland, Vt.).
Southern Maine hosts in-state rival Bates College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) in
its home opener. UMaine Farmington travels to Colby College on Tuesday (6:00
p.m.) for a non-conference game.
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Saturday, November 20, 2009
Southern Maine Drops Curry 74-50
FARMINGTON, Maine – Four players scored in double-figures as the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to a 74-50 win
over the Curry College Colonels in the first game of the 2009 UMaine Farmington
Tip Off Tournament Friday night at Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine bounces back from its season-opening loss to
improve to 1-1. Curry College drops its second game in a row to fall to 0-2.
Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) and freshman forward Curran
Leighton (Londonderry, N.H.) paced the Huskies with 14 points each. Sophomore
guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) added 11 points, seven rebounds
and seven steals, while senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) chipped in with a double-double with 11 points and a game-high
10 rebounds.
Freshman guard Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) led all scorers
with 16 points to compliment a team-high eight rebounds. Junior forward Danyel
Cousins (Brunswick, Maine) added 14 rebounds.
The Huskies scored the first five points of the game and ran out to a
commanding 21-point lead at the half, 48-27. Southern Maine shot a solid 41.7
percent (15-for-36) from the floor in the half and forced Curry into 22
turnovers. The Huskies scored 23 of their 48 first half points off of
turnovers. Paradis and Nicholas each had five steals in the half.
In the second half, Curry was able to trim the USM lead to 18-points, 48-
30, on a three-pointer from Rafferty with 17:41 to play but it was as close as
the would get as the Huskies cruised to the win.
Southern Maine will face either UMaine Farmington or UMaine Presque Isle in
the championship game on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Huskies Falter In Season Opener, Fall to UNE 72-55
BIDDEFORD, Maine – All five starters for the University of New England
scored in double-figures led by a team-high 14 points from sophomore forward
Margo Russell (Madison, Maine/Madison Area) as the Nor’easters defeated the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies 72-55 in a non-conference
women’s basketball game Tuesday afternoon at the The Campus Center in Biddeford,
Maine.
The win is the second in a row for the Nor’easters who improve to 2-0 early
in the season. It is just the second time in the 37-game history between the two
institutions that UNE has earned the win. UNE last defeated the Huskies on
November 30, 2000 by the score of 81-71. Southern Maine is 0-1 dropping its
first season-opening game since November 26, 1989 when it fell to Bridgewater
State 60-56 on the road.
Russell led a balanced UNE attack on a 5-for-11 effort from the field along
with a game-high 10 rebounds for the double-double. Sophomore guard Kelley
Paradis (Newport, Maine/Nokomis Regional) added 11 points and six rebounds,
while senior forward Katie Diggins (Merrimack, N.H.), junior guard Lyndie Libby
(Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and sophomore guard Kari Pelletier (South Paris,
Maine/Oxford Hills) each tossed in 10 points. Freshman forward Beth Suggs
(Bath, Maine/Morse) was a catalyst off of the bench for UNE with double-double
on 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Suffering from cold-shooting, Southern Maine freshman forward Curran
Leighton (Dover, N.H.) led the Huskies with a game-high 18 points on a 6-for-16
mark from the field. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region)
and senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) each had eight
points. Johnson led USM on the boards with eight rebounds.
The Huskies trailed UNE by four points at the half, 37-33, as the
Nor’easters came out on fire shooting 47.1 percent (16-for-34) from the field,
including a 50 percent effort (5-for-10) from three-point range. In the second
half, UNE maintained a steady shooting percentage, while the Huskies went ice
cold making just five second half field goals on an abysmal 16.7 effort (5-for-
30). UNE had a decisive advantage on the boards as well outrebounding Southern
Maine 51-29. Southern Maine finished the game shooting just 30.0 percent (18-
for-60) from the field.
UNE faces SUNY Cobleskill on Friday (5:00 p.m.) in the first game of the
Keene State Invitational. Southern Maine plays Curry College at the UMF Tip-Off
Tournament on Friday (5:30 p.m.).
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
Paradis and Johnson Named USM Women’s Basketball Captains
Huskies Enter the Season Ranked 12th/13th in National Preseason Polls
GORHAM, Maine – Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) and senior
forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) of the University of
Southern Maine Women’s Basketball team have been announced as co-captains of the
2009-2010 team. Veteran head coach Gary Fifield, in his 22nd season with the
Huskies, made the announcement as the team prepares for its upcoming season.
Heading into the 2009-2010 season, the Huskies are ranked nationally in
both the WBCA and D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 polls. Southern Maine is ranked
12th in the USA Today/ESPN WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Preseason Poll and 13th in the
D3hoops.com Preseason Poll.
“Nicole and Haley have developed into leaders over their three seasons,”
noted Fifield. “In the preseason they have shown their leadership vocally and
through their actions setting the tone for both returning players and newcomers
alike. Nicole and Haley understand the level of commitment and desire that is
necessary to achieve the team’s goals and reiterate those qualities in the
classroom, in practice and at game time.”
A four-year member of the basketball team, Johnson stepped into a starting
role as a junior. The 6-0 forward finished as second on the team in rebounds in
2008-2009 averaging 6.8 rebounds per game while adding a solid 7.4 points per
game shooting 46.4 percent (91-196) from the field. Johnson also had 39 steals
and 28 assists. She has 214 career points and 198 career rebounds in 76 career
games.
In her second season as one of the team’s co-captains, the Huskies point
guard slid into the starting role as a freshman and has been the team’s floor
leader since the 2006-2007 season. Averaging 9.9 points and 3.2 assists per
game in 2008-2009, Paradis earned All-Little East Conference (LEC) second team
honors and first team All-Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA)
honors. It was the third straight season that Paradis was recognized by both
entities as she earned All-LEC and All-MWBCA second team honors as a sophomore
in 2008 after earning All-Rookie team honors for the LEC and MWBCA in 2007.
An outstanding shooter, Paradis has averaged 7.7 points and 3.02 assist per
game over her 86-game career shooting 45.0 percent (228-506) from the field and
37.7 percent (92-244) from three-point range.
Southern Maine captured the 2009 Little East Conference tournament
championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National
Championship tournament for the 15th consecutive season, and 23rd time in 24
seasons, before finishing its season with a record of 22-7. With its 22 wins,
Southern Maine extended its NCAA Division III record of seasons with 20 or more
wins to 29.
Southern Maine begins its 2009-2010 season on Tuesday, November 18 at the
University of New England at 6:00 p.m. USM remains on the road for the UMF Tip-
Off Tournament against Curry College (Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m.) and then either UMaine
Farmington or UMaine Presque Isle (Nov. 21, 1:00/3:00 p.m.) in either the
consolation or championship game. Southern Maine hosts Bates College (Nov. 24,
5:30 p.m.) in its home opener and then travels to St. Joseph’s College (Nov. 29,
5:30 p.m.).
In December, USM hosts Bowdoin College (Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.), followed by its
LEC opener against Western Connecticut State (Dec. 5, 1:00 p.m.). USM faces
traditional rival Salem State on the road (Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m.) before hosting LEC
rival Keene State (Dec. 12, 1:00 p.m.).
In January, the Huskies open the New Year with their USM New Year’s
Classic. USM faces UMaine Presque Isle (Jan. 2, 4:00 p.m.) and then Regis
College (Jan. 3, 3:00 p.m.). The USM against Regis College pits Fifield against
one of his former players as Southern Maine standout Julie Plant ’00 is Pride’s
head coach.
The Huskies travel to Husson University (Jan. 6, 5:30 p.m.), UMass
Dartmouth (Jan. 9, 1:00 p.m.), Rhode Island College (Jan. 12, 5:30 p.m.) and
Eastern Connecticut State (Jan. 16, 1:00 p.m.) before hosting Plymouth State
(Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m.). USM returns to the road at Western Connecticut (Jan. 23,
1:00 p.m.) and is at home against UMass Boston (Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m.) before
traveling to Keene State (Jan. 30, 1:00 p.m.).
In February, USM hosts Colby College (Feb. 2, 5:30 p.m.) and UMass
Dartmouth (Feb. 6, 1:00 p.m.) and then travels to Plymouth State (Feb. 9, 5:30
p.m.). The Huskies host Rhode Island College (Feb. 13, 1:00 p.m.) and travel to
UMass Boston (Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m.) before hosting Eastern Connecticut State (Feb.
20, 1:00 p.m.) in their regular season home finale.
The Little East Conference tournament begins February 23 with the four
quarterfinal games played at high seeded teams. The semifinals and finals will
be held February 26-27 at the home of the highest remaining seed. The
tournament winner will receive the conference’s automatic berth into the 2009
NCAA Division III National Championship tournament.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Former USM All-American Joanna Brown
To Be Inducted Into New England Basketball Hall of Fame
GORHAM, Maine -- Former University of Southern Maine women's basketball
standout center Joanna Brown Cormier (York, Maine) will be among the honorees
inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, October 9,
2009, at the The Mohegan Sun Uncas Ballroom in Uncasville, Conn. The New
England Basketball Hall of Fame released its Class of 2009 on September 15.
One of the most decorated players in the history of the perennially
successful University of Southern Maine women's basketball team, Brown Cormier
became the fourth Husky to earn WBCA All-American honors during the 1997-1998
season after earning WBCA Honorable Mention All-American status consecutively
during the 1996-1997 and 1995-1996 seasons during her stellar four-year career.
A three-time Little East Conference Player of the Year (1996, 1997, 1998), Brown
Cormier began her career with USM being named the LEC Rookie of the Year and
ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1995. Among her numerous honors, Brown Cormier was
named the ECAC Player of the Year, New England Women's Basketball Association
(NEWBA) Player of the Year and Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association
(MWBCA) Player of the Year in 1998. Brown Cormier was also the MWBCA Player of
the Year in 1996. One of the top players in the country during her career,
Brown Cormier was a three-time All-LEC, ECAC and NEWBA first team selection
(1998, 1997 and 1996) and was twice selected to the MWBCA first team (1998,
1996).
Brown Cormier led Southern Maine to a record of 92-15 from 1994-1998, three
Little East Conference Tournament Championships and four consecutive trips to
the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament,
including the 1998 NCAA Division III Final Four where the Huskies finished as
national runners-up. An adept scorer, Brown Cormier is in the top ten of eight
career marks in the USM record books and still holds the record for career field
goal percentage shooting 57.0 percent from the field (731-for-1301) in 111 games
over four seasons. The 6-0 center is currently second in scoring average (16.6
ppg), field goals made (731) and free throws made (380), third in points scored
(1,845) and rebounds (962) and seventh in free throw percentage (.763) and
rebound average (8.7 rpg).
"Jo was one of the most prolific post players in the history of the
program," noted USM veteran head coach Gary Field. "She had a distinguished
career at Southern Maine and is one of the many players who have helped build
and maintain the success we have had on the national level. She had an uncanny
ability to score while being closely guarded in the paint and was a talented
enough shooter to step out and hit the three. She possessed what many USM
players have had, a desire to win, commitment to team and a competitive drive.
I am excited for her to earn this honor."
Brown Cormier becomes the fourth University of Southern Maine women's
basketball player to be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame
joining the all-time leading scorer in USM history and two-time WBCA All-
American Maureen Burchill Cooper (Portland, Maine) who was inducted in 2003,
2004 inductee WBCA All-American Dianna Duff (Cumberland, Maine) and former
teammate on the Huskies 1998 Final Four team Julie Plant who was inducted in
2006. The Huskies' 1998 and the 2000 teams are also enshrined in the New
England Basketball Hall of Fame as well as long-time head coach Gary Fifield who
was inducted in 2003.
Inductees for the New England Basketball Hall of Fame were selected in
specific categories. High school boys, girls, coaches and teams were selected
by state. College Division I, II and III, Junior College and Prep school
categories were selected without regard to state affiliation. Special Inductees
categories were also considered regionally and included referees, organizations,
members of the media, contributors, semiprofessional players and individual
selections from Special Olympics, deaf competitors, wheelchair athletes and the
youth/volunteer category.
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