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SEASON COMPLETE
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Southern Maine’s Leighton Earns ECAC New England Rookie of the Year
Freshman Forward Also Earns Second Team All ECAC Honors
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) picked up
her fifth Rookie of the Year honor earning the ECAC Division III New England
Rookie of the Year. Recently named the 2010 New England Women’s Basketball
Association (NEWBA), Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (MWBCA),
Little East Conference Rookie of the Year and D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region,
Leighton was also named to the ECAC New England second team.
The only rookie on the ECAC New England all-region, Leighton led Southern
Maine in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots averaging 16.4 points, 8.9
rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game while shooting a solid 45.4 percent
(186-for-410) from the field. She also dished out 60 assists (2.0 apg) and
nabbed 1.6 steals per game. A versatile post-player, Leighton also showed some
range in her freshman year shooting 37.3 percent (19-for-51) from three-point
range, while leading USM at the free throw line knocking down 80.8 percent (101-
125) from the charity stripe.
Posting 10 double-doubles in her freshman campaign, Leighton helped
Southern Maine to its 24th appearance in the NCAA Division III National
Championship tournament. Scoring at least 20 points in 12 games, Leighton set a
career high of 27 points against UMass Dartmouth in January and grabbed a
career-best 18 rebounds in a LEC tournament game against UMass Dartmouth in
February. She was named to both the Little East Conference and MWBCA first
teams and to their respective all-rookie teams.
Leighton finished the season in the top 20 of several USM single season
records. Her 482 points in 30 games is ranked 12th and her 16.4 points per game
average is the 16th best single season average. The 5-9 forward’s 266 rebounds
is ranked 16th, while her 54 blocked shots are 17th overall.
Southern Maine finished its season with a record of 21-9 earning its NCAA
Division III record 30th consecutive season with at least 20 wins. Making its
16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and 24th trip in the last 25
seasons, Southern Maine advanced to the second round.
ECAC Division III New England Women’s Basketball All-Region Team
Player of the Year: Caroline Stedman, G, Amherst
Rookie of the Year: Curran Leighton, F, Southern Maine
First Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Caroline Stedman So. G Amherst
Kendrae Walker Jr. C Albertus Magnus
Jessica Chapin Sr. G Brandeis
Colleen Hart Jr. G Tufts
Melissa Teel Jr. C Western Connecticut
Second Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Ceciley Chisholm Sr. C Endicott
Curran Leighton Fr. F Southern Maine
Julia Baily So. G Tufts
Nicole Wurdeman So. F/C Babson
Alison Cappelloni Sr. G/F Colby
Third Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Vanessa Bosques So. G Daniel Webster
Shelby Bradford Sr. F Husson
Iman Davis Sr. G Emmanuel
Terry Duffy Sr. F Colby-Sawyer
Danielle Jenkins Sr. C Salem State
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Southern Maine's Leighton Earns D3Hoops.Com Regional Rookie of the Year
Freshman Forward Also Earns Second Team All Region Honors
GORHAM, Maine -- Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) picked up
her fourth Rookie of the Year honor earning the D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region
Rookie of the Year. Recently named the 2010 New England Women's Basketball
Association (NEWBA), Maine Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (MWBCA) and
Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, Leighton was also named to the All-
Northeast Region second team. She is the lone freshman player to earn all-
Northeast region honors and one of just four freshmen named to an all-region
team in the eight regions awarded.
Leighton led Southern Maine in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots
averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game while
shooting a solid 45.4 percent (186-for-410) from the field. She also dished out
60 assists (2.0 apg) and nabbed 1.6 steals per game. A versatile post-player,
Leighton also showed some range in her freshman year shooting 37.3 percent (19-
for-51) from three-point range, while leading USM at the free throw line
knocking down 80.8 percent (101-125) from the charity stripe.
"Curran had an outstanding freshman season in one of the most competitive
conferences and regions in the country," noted veteran head coach Gary Fifield.
"She is a very gifted athlete who has tremendous potential as she grows in her
knowledge and understanding of the game."
Posting 10 double-doubles in her freshman campaign, Leighton helped
Southern Maine to its 24th appearance in the NCAA Division III National
Championship tournament. Scoring at least 20 points in 12 games, Leighton set a
career high of 27 points against UMass Dartmouth in January and grabbed a
career-best 18 rebounds in a LEC tournament game against UMass Dartmouth in
February. She was named to both the Little East Conference and MWBCA first
teams and to their respective all-rookie teams.
Southern Maine finished its season with a record of 21-9 earning its NCAA
Division III record 30th consecutive season with at least 20 wins. Making its
16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and 24th trip in the last 25
seasons, Southern Maine advanced to the second round.
D3Hoops.com All-Northeast Region Team
Player of the Year: Caroline Stedman, G, Amherst
Coach of the Year: G.P. Gromacki, Amherst
Rookie of the Year: Curran Leighton, F, Southern Maine
First Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Caroline Stedman So. G Amherst
Colleen Hart Jr. G Tufts
Nicole Wurdeman So. F Babson
Julia Baily Sr. F Tufts
Melissa Teel Jr. C Western Connecticut
Second Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Jessica Chapman Sr. G Brandeis
Iman Davis Sr. G Emmanuel
Curran Leighton Fr. F Southern Maine
Alison Cappelloni Sr. F Colby
Melissa Martinelli Sr. C Coast Guard
Third Team
Player Yr. Pos. School
Vanessa Bosques So. G Daniel Webster
Shelby Bradford Sr. F Husson
Lauren Yanofsky Sr. F Bates
Caitlyn Laflin Sr. F Maine-Farmington
Danielle Jenkins Sr. C Salem State
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Leighton Named New England Women’s Basketball Association Rookie of the Year
GORHAM, Maine – After a remarkable freshman campaign, University of
Southern Maine Huskies’ rookie forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) has earned
another post-season accolade, earning the 2009-2010 New England Women’s
Basketball Coaches’ Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Year award. Recently
named both the 2010 Little East Conference (LEC) and Maine Women’s Basketball
Coaches’ Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Year, Leighton led the Huskies to
their 24th appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament.
The 5-9 forward led Southern Maine in scoring and rebounding averaging 16.4
points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Shooting 45.4 percent (186-for-410) from the
field, Leighton also led the conference in scoring and was second in blocked
shots with 1.8 per game. She also dished out 60 assists (2.0 apg) and nabbed
1.6 steals per game. A versatile post-player, Leighton also showed some range
in her freshman year shooting 37.3 percent (19-for-51) from three-point range,
while leading USM at the free throw line knocking down 80.8 percent (101-125)
from the charity stripe.
Leighton amassed 10 double-doubles during the season en route to earning
both Little East Conference and MWBCA first team honors and all-rookie team
accolades. The forward scored at least 20 points on 12 occasions recording a
season-high 27 points at LEC opponent UMass Dartmouth in January. Leighton set
a career-mark of 18 rebounds during the LEC championship tournament also against
UMass Dartmouth in February.
Southern Maine finished its season with a record of 21-9 earning its NCAA
Division III record 30th consecutive season with at least 20 wins. Making its
16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and 24th trip in the last 25
seasons, Southern Maine advanced to the second round.
2010 New England Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Yearly Awards
Coach of the Year: Judy Blinstrub, Babson College
Player of the Year: Melissa Teel, Western Connecticut State University
Rookie of the year: Curran Leighton, University of Southern Maine
First Team
Nicole Wurdeman So. F Babson College
Shelby Bradford Sr. F Husson University
Melissa Teel Jr. C Western Connecticut
Jessica Chapman Sr. G Brandeis University
Colleen Hart Jr. G Tufts University
Second Team
Danielle Jenkins Sr. C Salem State
Caitlyn Hynes Sr. C Bowdoin College
Lauren Yanofsky Sr. F Bates College
Melissa Martinelli Sr. C Coast Guard
Alison Cappelloni Sr. F Colby College
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Leighton, DeMillo Represent USM on MWBCA All-State Team
Leighton Named 2010 MWBCA Rookie of the Year
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) and junior
guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies
women’s basketball team have each been honored by the Maine Women’s Basketball
Coaches’ Association with post-season accolades.
DeMillo is earning second team All-MWBCA honors for the second consecutive
season. The 5-7 guard also earned second team All-Little East Conference honors
finishing the season as USM’s second leading scorer and top playmaker averaging
11.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. A long-distance threat, DeMillo sank 67
three-pointers this season shooting 31.2 percent from beyond the arc. Setting
the school record for three-pointers in a season during the 2008-2009 season
with 76, DeMillo has 156 in her career and is currently fifth in USM record
books.
The 2010 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, Leighton is also
earning the honor from the MWBCA after leading USM in scoring, rebounding and
blocked shots. The 5-9 forward, who also earned first team All-Little East
Conference and MWBCA honors, averaged 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists,
1.8 blocks and 1.6 steals per game while shooting a solid 45.4 percent (186-for-
410) from the field. Recording 10 double-doubles in her rookie season, Leighton
was also named to both the LEC and MWBCA All-Rookie teams.
Leighton was named the Little East Rookie of the Week eight times during
the season, most recently on March 8 after averaging 16.0 points and 11.0
rebounds in the Huskies two NCAA tournament games. Leighton was also named the
MWBCA Rookie of the Week eight times and the New England Women’s Basketball
Association (NEWBA) four times and Player of the Week twice.
Southern Maine completed its 2009-2010 season with a record of 21-9,
earning its 30th consecutive 20-win season. The Huskies earned their 16th
consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National
Championship Tournament and advanced to the second round tournament.
2010 Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-State Teams
First Team
Shelby Bradford Sr. Husson University
Alison Cappelloni Sr. Colby College
Curran Leighton Fr. University of Southern Maine
Caitlyn Laflin Sr. University of Maine, Farmington
Caitlin Hynes Sr. Bowdoin College
Second Team
Lauren Yanofsky Sr. Bates College
Leah Rubega Sr. Bowdoin College
Kelly Paradis So. University of New England
Rachael Mack So. Colby College
Kaylie DeMillo Jr. University of Southern Maine
All-Rookie Team
Curran Leighton Fr. University of Southern Maine
Diana Manduca Fr. Colby College
Allie Beaulieu Fr. Bates College
Kaitlin Donahue Fr. Bowdoin College
Beth Suggs Fr. University of New England
Player of the Year: Shelby Bradford, Husson
Rookie of the Year: Curran Leighton, Southern Maine
Coach of the Year: Lori Gear-McBride, Colby
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Saturday, March 6, 2010
2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament
No. 1 Amherst College Sinks Southern Maine 76-49
AMHERST, MASS. – Sophomore center Lem Atanga McCormack (Chicago,
Ill./Loyola Academy) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the no. 1 ranked
Amherst College Lord Jeffs to a 76-49 win over the University of Southern Maine
Huskies in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball
National Championship tournament.
With the win, Amherst College advances to the “Sweet Sixteen” round of the
tournament and remains undefeated at 29-0. The Huskies conclude their season
with a record of 21-9. Amherst will face the winner of the Williams vs. DeSales
game played later this evening.
McCormack helped the Lord Jeffs to a hot start shooting an outstanding 8-
for-11 from the field including a 2-for-3 mark from three-point range. Junior
center Sarah Leyman (Walpole, Mass.) added 10 points and seven rebounds. Junior
center Sarah Leyman (Cincinatti, Ohio/Seven Hills Upper) and freshman guard
Marcia Voigt (Skillman, N.J./Montgomery) each scored nine points.
Southern Maine freshman forward >Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) paced the
Huskies with a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Haley
Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) added 10 points.
Amherst did a bulk of the damage in the first half as the Lord Jeffs came
out on fire scoring the first seven points of the game, knocking down a
blistering nine of its first 11 field goals (81.8 percent) in the opening ten
minutes and continued to roll to a 42-19 lead at the break. McCormick, who was
7-for-8 from field in the first half, scored 16 of the Lord Jeffs 42 first half
points while Stedman scored all of her 10 in the opening stanza. Conversely,
Southern Maine was ice cold from the floor, shooting just 25.9 percent on a 7-
for-27 mark from the field. Amherst finished the half shooting 58.6 percent
(17-for-29) from the field.
In the second half, Southern Maine was able to keep pace with Amherst, but
was unable to recover from their first half deficit, as the Lord Jeffs never led
by less than 19 points.
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Friday, March 5, 2010
2010 NCAA Division III First Round
Southern Maine Defeats RPI 74-63, Advances in NCAA Tournament
AMHERST, Mass. – Four players scored in double-digits to lead a balanced
attack as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute Engineers 74-63 in the first round of the 2010 NCAA
Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament at Amherst
College’s LeFrak Gymnasium Friday evening.
With the win, Southern Maine advances to the second round of the NCAA
Championship and improves its overall record to 21-8. Rensselaer Polytechnic
concludes its season with a 17-11 record. USM’s win marks the 19th time in
their 24 trips to the NCAA National tournament that it has advanced to at least
the second round.
Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) and senior forward Haley
Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) each posted their ninth double-doubles
of the season in the win providing USM with a formidable inside presence.
Leighton led all scorers with 20 points and 13 rebounds (both game-high totals),
while Johnson netted 15 points and grabbed 11 boards. Junior guard Kaylie
DeMillo (Jay, Maine) knocked down 5-of-7 from three point range tossing in 19
points, five rebounds and a team high five assists. Senior guard Nicole Paradis
(Skowhegan, Maine) added 13 points and a season-high six rebounds.
Sophomore guard Laura Esterlin (Ventura, Calif.) paced the Engineers with
15 points on a 6-for-8 mark from the field. Senior guard Whitney Coleman
(Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and sophomore forward Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug,
Conn.) each scored 12 points.
Trailing 18-13 with 7:46 to play in the first half, Southern Maine
outscored the Engineers 15-6 to close the half including a pivotal 10-0 run
paced by eight straight points from Leighton to lead 28-24 at the break.
In the second half, double its lead to go ahead by eight, 42-34, with 12:16
to play before RPI rattled off a 7-1 run to trail by a basket 43-41 with 10:19
on the clock. McKinley started the run with a pair of lay-ups and junior guard
Allison Connor (Hudson, N.Y.) closed the run with a three. Southern Maine
responded, however with a 14-5 run to grab its largest lead of the game 57-46
with 7:02 on the clock. DeMillo and Leighton each scored six points in the run,
including a pair of backbreaking three-pointers from DeMillo.
RPI’s Coleman cut her team’s deficit eight, 59-51, with her second three-
pointer of the game with 4:11 on the clock, but it was as close as the Engineers
would get. Coleman scored seven of her 12 points in the final five minute of
the game, as USM sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region)
contained the 2010 Liberty League Player of the Year to just five points in the
first 35 minutes of the game and holding Coleman to six points below her
average.
The Huskies led by as many as 15 points in the final seconds of the game
finished and outscored RPI 15-10 in the final four minutes.
Southern Maine will face the winner of Amherst College vs. Massachusetts
College of Liberal Arts game that will be played at 6 p.m. today.
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Monday, March 1, 2010
Three Huskies Earn Little East Conference Recognition
Leighton Named 2010 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine), sophomore guard Renee
Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) and freshman forward Curran Leighton
(Dover, N.H.) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball
team were recognized by the Little East Conference (LEC) for their outstanding
play with post-season honors. The Little East Conference announced its all-
conference selection on Tuesday.
Nicholas was named to the LEC All-Defensive team, while DeMillo earned
second team all-conference honors. Leighton earned numerous honors for Southern
Maine, being named the 2010 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year. The 5-9
forward was also selected to the all-conference first team and the all-rookie
team.
Sliding into a starting role in her second season, Nicholas provided the
Huskies with high-pressure defense at the guard position this season. The 5-6
guard averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a conference leading
4.5 steals per game. Grabbing 126 steals through 28 games, Nicholas broke a 28-
year-old school record for steals in a game when she had 13 thefts to her credit
in a 55-31 win over UMass Boston on January 26, 2010. Nicholas had 16 games
with at least four steals during the season.
“Renee is an exceptional athlete who plays hard defensively for each minute
that she is in the game,” noted veteran head coach Gary Fifield. “Her defensive
pressure has helped us to easy baskets on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Huskies second leading scorer, DeMillo is earning all-conference
recognition for the third time in her career. The 5-7 guard was named to the
LEC All-Rookie team in 2008 and earned first team all-conference honors as a
sophomore in 2008. DeMillo averaged 11.6 points per game for USM while shooting
30.2 from three-point range, knocking down 62 three-point field goals. DeMillo
also chipped in with a team-leading 3.1 assists per game, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3
steals per game. A long-range threat, DeMillo has 151 three-pointers in her
career and is fifth all-time in school history. Her career 32.6 percent mark
from beyond the arc currently has her 10th in career records.
“Kaylie has developed into a solid all-around player,” commented Fifield.
“She has stepped up other areas of her play and has been vital to our success
during her career.”
Leighton, a 5-9 forward, made an immediate impact on the Huskies’ season
starting in all 28 games and leading team in scoring, rebounding and blocked
shots. Leighton led the LEC in scoring averaging 16.4 points per game shooting
46.3 percent (173-for-374) from the field, while averaging 8.8 rebounds and 1.9
blocks per game. Leighton posted nine double-doubles in her freshman season
establishing career highs of 27 points and 18 rebounds. She scored at least 20
points 11 times during the season.
The rookie forward was named the Little East Conference rookie of the week
seven times during the season and the LEC Player of the Week once. She also
earned Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week
honors eight times and New England Women’s’ Basketball (NEWBA) Rookie of the
Week honors four times. She was the NEWBA Player of the Week twice.
“Curran is a tremendous athlete who can make things happen on both ends of
the floor,” said Fifield. “She has developed her understanding of the game
throughout the season and has continued to improve her play.”
Southern Maine will be making its 16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA
Division III Women’s Basketball Championship when it faces Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute in the first round of the tournament on Friday, March 5
(4:00 p.m.) The Huskies will face RPI in Amherst, Mass. at Amherst College’s
LeFrak Gymnasium.
2010 Little East Conference Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Kristin Degou Senior Guard Keene State College
Heather Lee Junior Guard Western Connecticut
Curran Leighton Freshman Forward Southern Maine
Jessica Moriarity Junior Guard Eastern Connecticut
Karli Spera Junior Guard Western Connecticut
Melissa Teel Junior Center Western Connecticut
Second Team
Tanisha Carter Freshman Forward Eastern Connecticut
Kaylie DeMillo Junior Guard Southern Maine
Amanda Kania Junior Forward Plymouth State
Rachel Riley Sophomore Forward Rhode Island College
Nicole Simmler Senior Forward Keene State College
All Defensive Team
Kristin Degou Senior Guard Keene State
Jessica Moriarty Junior Guard Eastern Connecticut
Renee Nicholas Sophomore Guard Southern Maine
Denise Scott Senior Guard Rhode Island College
Melissa Teel Junior Center Western Connecticut
All Rookie Team
Courtney Burns Freshman Forward Rhode Island College
Tanisha Carter Freshman Forward Eastern Connecticut
Lynley DeAmato Junior Guard UMass Dartmouth
Lauren Kelleher Freshman Center Eastern Connecticut
Curran Leighton Freshman Forward Southern Maine
Player of the Year
Melissa Teel Junior Center Western Connecticut
Defensive Player of the Year
Jessica Moriarty Junior Guard Eastern Connecticut
Rookie of the Year
Curran Leighton Freshman Forward Southern Maine
Coach of the Year
Kim Rybczyk, Western Connecticut State University
Team Sportsmanship Award
Plymouth State University
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Monday, March 1, 2010
Leighton Sweeps MWBCA and NEWBA Rookie of the Week Awards
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover,
N.H.) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team has
been named the New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) and Maine
Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week for the week
ending Sunday, February 28, 2010.
It is the fourth time this season that Leighton has been named the NEWBA
Rookie of the Week and the ninth time she has earned the honor from the MWBCA.
The forward has also been named the NEWBA Player of the Week twice this season.
Leighton averaged 19.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.67 blocks and
1.0 steals per game during the Little East Conference tournament. The 5-9
forward shot 53.8 percent (21-for-39) from the field and 86.6 percent (13-for-
15) from the free throw line to lead USM to the championship game of the LEC
tournament.
Leighton netted 21 points and grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds in Southern
Maine’s 64-54 win over UMass Dartmouth in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. In
the semifinals on Friday, Leighton recorded her ninth double-double of the
season with 15 points and 13 rebounds as USM edged Eastern Connecticut 48-46.
She closed out the week with a 21-point, eight-rebound performance against
Western Connecticut in the championship game.
Leighton leads Southern Maine in scoring and rebounding averaging 16.4
points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She is shooting 46.3 percent (173-for-374)
from the floor, 38.8 percent (19-for-49) from three-point range and 82.6 percent
(95-for-115) from the free throw line. She is averaging 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals
and 1.9 blocks per game.
Southern Maine will be making its 16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA
Division III Women’s Basketball Championship when it faces Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute in the first round of the tournament on Friday, March 5
(4:00 p.m.) The Huskies will face RPI in Amherst, Mass. at Amherst College’s
LeFrak Gymnasium.
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Monday, March 1, 2010
NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament
Southern Maine, Earns At-Large Bid, Faces R.P.I. In First Round of NCAA
Tournament
Huskies and Engineers Will Travel to Play at Amherst College
GORHAM, Maine – For the 16th consecutive season and 24th time since
joining the NCAA in 1985, the University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s
basketball team will be playing in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball
National Championship Tournament. The Huskies received an at-large bid (Pool C)
bid from the NCAA. The announcement was made Monday afternoon.
The Huskies will face Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers on
Friday, March 5 in a regional hosted by Amherst College at LeFrak Gymnasium in
Amherst, Mass. USM will play RPI at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Southern Maine enters the tournament with a 20-8 overall record. Southern
Maine is one of two Little East Conference schools to earn a bid to the NCAA
tournament. The Huskies finished the season as the LEC tournament runner-up and
tied for second in the regular season with a 10-4 conference mark.
The Huskies have participated in the NCAA tournament every year since 1995
and 24 of the last 25 seasons since moving from the NAIA to the NCAA in 1985.
RPI earned its first bid to the NCAA tournament since 2001 after capturing the
Liberty League tournament title. The Engineers entered the tournament as the
third seed and upset top-seeded Skidmore College 70-67 in the championship game
to earn their conference’s automatic bid to the tournament. It is the second
time in the school’s women’s basketball history that the team has earned a bid
to the championship tournament.
The host Amherst College Lord Jeffs earned the New England Small College
Athletic Conference’s (NESCAC) automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after
defeating Colby College 69-54 in the championship game. Amherst is one of two
teams that enter the NCAA tournament with an undefeated record as the Lord Jeffs
are 27-0. Amherst will face Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in
their first round game on Friday at 6 p.m. MCLA upset Worcester State in the
final of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC)
tournament. MCLA is 18-9.
Southern Maine is led by freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.).
Leighton, a 5-9 forward, leads the Huskies in scoring and rebounding averaging
16.4 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. She is shooting 46.3 percent
(173-for-374) from the field, 38.8 percent (19-for-49) from three-point range
and 82.6 percent (95-for-115) from the free throw line. Leighton is also among
the team leaders in assists (2.1 apg), steals (1.5 spg) and blocked shots (1.9
bpg).
Sophomore guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine), is USM’s second leading scorer
averaging 11.6 points per game and a team-leading 3.1 assists per game. Senior
forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) is averaging 9.3 points
and 8.7 rebounds per game. Shooting an outstanding 54.5 percent (108-for-198)
from the field, Johnson has recorded nine double doubles this season. Rounding
out the starting line-up for Southern Maine is sophomore guard Renee Nicholas
(Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) and senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine).
Nicholas averaged 7.6 point per game, while Paradis chips in at 7.5 points per
game. Nicholas leads the Huskies in steals averaging a remarkable 4.5 per game.
The 5-6 guard established a new single-game record for steals during the season,
grabbing 13 steals against UMass Boston in January.
RPI is paced by graduate student Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga,
Calif.). The Liberty League Player of the Year, Coleman was named the
tournament’s MVP. Coleman is averaging 17.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
She is also the team’s leaders in assists (107) and steals (26). Also averaging
in double-figures for the Engineers is junior guard Allison Connor (Hudson,
N.Y.). Connor averaging 10.7 points, shooting 32.7 percent from three-point
range.
NCAA Division III Regional Tournament
First Round Games, Friday, March 5 (at Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.)
Game 1: Southern Maine (20-8) vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (17-10) 4 p.m.
Game 2: Amherst College (27-0) vs. Mass. College of Liberal Arts (18-9) 6 p.m.
Second Round Game, Saturday, March 6 (at Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.)
Game 3: Game One Winner vs. Game Two Winner 5 p.m.
NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament
Who: University of Southern Maine vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Amherst College vs. Babson College
When: Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, 2010
Where: Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.
LeFrak Gymnasium
Southern Maine Team Info:
Record: 20-8 overall, 10-4 Little East Conference (Second Place)
Head Coach: Gary Fifield, Vermont ’75, ’82, 22nd Season (561-96, .853 winning percentage)
16th Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance, 24th in last 25 years since moving
from NAIA to NCAA in 1995
All-Time Record in NCAA Tournament Play is 43-24 (.641 winning percentage)
Best Finishes: Second Place 1998, 2000 and 2006; Third Place in 2005; Fourth in
1988
Last Year (2009): Lost to Emmanuel College 55-49 in the first round.
Scoring Leaders: Curran Leighton, Fr., F, 16.4 ppg; Kaylie DeMillo, Jr., G,
11.6 ppg; Haley Johnson, Sr., F, 9.3 ppg
Rebounding Leaders: Curran Leighton, Fr., F, 8.8 rpg; Haley Johnson, Sr., F, 8.7
rpg; Renee Nicholas, So., G, 4.5 rpg
Assist Leaders: Kaylie DeMillo, Jr., G, 3.1 apg; Nicole Paradis, Sr., G, 3.0
apg; Renee Nicholas, So., G, 2.5 apg
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Saturday, February 27, 2010
2010 Little East Conference Championship
Western Connecticut Grabs First Little East Conference Championship Since 1994
Colonials Defeat Southern Maine 61-46
DANBURY, Conn. – Junior forward Melissa Teel (Hamden, Conn.) scored a
game-high 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the top-seeded Western
Connecticut State University Colonials to a 61-46 win over the third-seeded
University of Southern Maine Huskies to capture their first Little East
Conference tournament championship since the 1994 season.
With the win the Colonials improve to 22-5 and earn the conference’s
automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
Southern Maine falls to 20-8 overall and will await a possible berth into the
NCAA tournament. The NCAA will announce its tournament bracket on Monday
(approximately 12 p.m.).
Teel was an outstanding 9-for-13 from the field and added four blocks and
three assists. The 6-2 forward was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding
Player. Freshman guard Taylor Nkonki (Middletown, Conn./Waterford) netted 12
points knocking down 4-of-4 from three-point range and junior guard Karli Spera
(Waterford, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points.
Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) paced the Huskies with 21
points and a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago,
Maine/Lake Region) added 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
In a closely contested first half, Western Connecticut struck last to take
a narrow 31-28 lead as Spera canned a clutch three-pointer deep from the top of
the key on the Colonials final possession of the half.
Western Connecticut broke open the game with a 14-4 run starting with 16:41
to play. Leading 39-32, the Colonials received scoring contributions from four
different players led by Teel’s scored five points to grab a 15-point, 51-36,
lead with 9:46 to play. After the decisive run, the Huskies were unable to inch
any closer than 11 points the rest of the half as Western Connecticut claimed
the title.
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Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 Little East Conference Semifinal Game No. 2
Huskies Win Barn Burner Defeat Eastern Connecticut 48-46
Southern Maine Will Face Western Connecticut in LEC Championship
DANBURY, Conn. – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) notched
her ninth career double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a hard-fought 48-46 win over the Eastern
Connecticut State University Warriors in the second semifinal game of the 2010
Little East Conference Women’s Basketball Championship Friday night at Feldman
Arena in Danbury, Conn.
Southern Maine, the third seed in the tournament, improves to 20-7 with the
win. It is the 30th consecutive season that the Huskies have won at least 20
games. The loss drops Eastern Connecticut, the second seed in the tournament,
to 17-9. Eastern Connecticut will await the announcement on Monday from the
NCAA for a potential NCAA National Championship tournament berth. Southern
Maine will face top-seeded Western Connecticut in the championship game on
Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
Leighton scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the second half as the
Huskies overcame a four-point halftime deficit. The 5-9 forward finished the
game 5-for-11 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Senior
forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and senior guard Nicole
Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) each chipped in with seven and eight points
respectively, while Johnson grabbed six rebounds and Paradis nabbed six steals.
Junior forward Amanda Pierlioni (Plainville, Conn.) led the Warriors with
14 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Brittany Whiteley (Windsor Locks,
Conn.) tossed in 10 points and junior guard Jessica Moriarity (East Haven,
Conn.) played a solid all-around game with seven points, 11 rebounds, five
assists and four steals.
The first half was a game of runs as Southern Maine raced out to an 11-3
lead in the opening eight minutes of the game. Paradis scored four of her seven
points in the opening run, while Leighton netted her lone three of the game.
The Warriors stormed back however, outscoring USM 18-4 over the final 11:45 of
the half to take a 21-17 lead at the break. Five different Warriors contributed
to the scoring, led by five points from freshman guard Samantha Riccio (Avon,
Conn.) and four points from Moriarty.
In the second half, the Warriors extended their lead to six and held their
lead 25-19 on a lay-up from freshman forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford,
Conn./East Catholic) with 16:41 to play, before the Huskies swung the momentum
in their favor with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game since the
first half, 26-25, with 15:11 to play. Leighton started the run sinking a pair
of free throws and junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) scored five of her
seven points canning a long three-pointer from the wing followed by a driving a
jumper.
After the Huskies 7-0 run, both teams traded blows back and forth as the
final 15 minutes of the game saw 10 lead changes and eight tie scores. With
just over three minutes to play, Leighton gave USM a two-point lead with a turn-
around jumper in the paint, before ECSU’s Whiteley knotted the score up for the
eighth and final time with a pair of free throws with 2:48 to play.
On the next USM possession, Leighton again game through for the Huskies
with another clutch basket in the paint and the Huskies came up with a huge
defensive stop as Paradis grabbed her game-high sixth steal of the night. In
its ensuing possession, USM extended its lead to four points, 48-44, following a
pair of DeMillo free throws, before Pierlioni cut the Warrior deficit to two,
48-46, with a tough lay-up in traffic with 45 seconds to play.
USM turned the ball over on a shot clock violation and the Warriors
regained possession with 10 seconds remaining. Southern Maine was able to halt
any idea of a last-minute winner by the Warriors, playing defense and allowing
Eastern Connecticut only a contested look at the basket as time wound down. As
the buzzer sounded, Southern Maine’s Johnson cleared the glass as the Huskies
held on for the win.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Little East Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament
Leighton, Johnson Power USM to 64-54 Win Over UMass Dartmouth
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) and senior
forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) combined for 36 points and
30 rebounds, each recording their eighth double-double of the season, to lead
the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 64-54 win over the UMass Dartmouth
Corsairs in the first round of the 2010 Little East Conference Women’s
Basketball Championship Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The third-seeded Huskies advance to face second-seeded Eastern Connecticut
State on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and improve to 19-7 with the win. Southern Maine
and Eastern Connecticut split the regular season series and finished tied for
second in the LEC with 10-4 conference records. Western Connecticut, the top
seed in the tournament, is hosting the semifinal and final games at Feldman
Arena in Danbury, Conn. UMass Dartmouth, the sixth seed in the tournament,
concludes its season with a 10-16 mark.
Leighton led all scorers with 21 points on a solid 7-for-13 effort from the
field and a 7-for-8 mark at the free throw line. The 5-9 forward grabbed a
career-high 18 rebounds and added six assists and four blocked shots. Johnson
tossed in 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists on a stellar 6-for-8 shooting
performance. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 12 points.
Senior forward Kaylin Nelson (New Bedford, Mass.) led the Corsairs with 17
points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Stephanie Houtman (New Bedford,
Mass.) and junior guard Lynley DeAmato (Melrose, Mass.) each scored 12 points,
while Houtman matched Nelson for team-high rebounding honors with seven.
Southern Maine raced out to an 11-0 in the opening five minutes of the game
and seemed in control holding the Corsairs scoreless until one of two free
throws from Houtman put UMass Dartmouth on the 11-1 with 15:06 on the clock.
Leighton scored the Huskies’ first eight points of the game, while DeMillo
capped the opening burst with the first of her three three-point field goals.
However, the scrappy Corsairs barreled their way back into the game with a 12-2
run over the next five minutes to knot the score up at 13-13 with 10:13 to play.
Four Corsair players contributed to the scoring in the run, led by five points
from Nelson.
Both teams battled back and forth over the next several possession and the
Corsairs trailed the Huskies by just three points, 18-15, with 8:42 to play
before Southern Maine embarked on a 15-4 run over the six and a half minutes to
grab its largest lead of the game, 33-19, with 2:18 remaining in the half. This
time the Huskies displayed balance as five players figured into the mix led by
four points each from sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region)
and senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine). Nicholas finished the game
with six points, five assists, four rebounds and eight steals, while Paradis
added seven points.
UMD junior Tashauna Ashmeade (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) scored the final
basket of the half for a 33-21 USM lead at the break.
In the second half, USM maintained between a 12-14 point advantage in the
opening minutes, before the Corsairs pulled themselves to within two possessions
of the Huskies. After Leighton found a cutting Johnson for a lay-up to put the
Huskies up 37-23, the Corsairs rattled off eight straight points to trail 37-31
with 15:14 to play. DeAmato scored six of her 12 points in the run.
The two teams traded shots over the next four minutes and the Corsairs were
within striking distance, 45-37, with 11:06 remaining following a lay-up from
Nelson before the Huskies shut the door on any upset bid with a 7-0 run.
Paradis kick started the USM run three from the wing and Johnson and Leighton
scored the final four points on a 10-foot jumper at the top of the key and a
pair of free throws respectively for a 52-37 lead with 10:02 to play.
The Corsairs were unable to get any closer than 10 points the rest of the
half as the Huskies led by as many as 13 points, 62-49, with 1:22 on the clock.
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Monday, February 22, 2010
Leighton Earns MWBCA and LEC Rookie of the Week Honors
Huskies Forward Also Named NEWBA Player of the Week
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman forward Curran Leighton
(Dover, N.H.) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball
team has been named the Little East Conference (LEC) and the Maine Women’s
Basketball Coaches’ Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week for the week ending
Sunday, February 21, 2010. The 5-9 forward was also selected at the New England
Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Week.
Leighton’s current accolades mark the eighth time this season that she has
been selected as the Little East Conference (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 11,
Feb. 2, Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 21) and MWBCA (Nov. 24, Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Jan.
11, Feb. 2, Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 21) Rookie of the Week. It is the second
time this season that Leighton has earned NEWBA Player of the Week honors. She
has earned NEWBA Rookie of the Week honors three times.
Leighton averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per
game as Southern Maine earned a pair of Little East Conference victories. The
Dover, N.H. native shot 53.3 percent (16-for-30) from the field and 90.0 percent
(9-for-10) from the free throw line during the week. Leighton had 20 points,
five rebounds and three steals in a 52-43 road win at UMass Boston. In a 58-57
win over Eastern Connecticut, Leighton scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in
the second half, shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free
throw line. She scored eight of USM’s final 13 points and grabbed a game-high
nine rebounds.
Southern Maine hosts the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) in
the Little East Conference tournament play off game. The Huskies finished the
regular season tied for second place and are the third seed in the tournament.
UMass Dartmouth finished the regular season tied for sixth place and are the
sixth seed in the tournament.
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Saturday, February 20, 2010
Leighton Nets Game-High 21; Southern Maine Slips Past Eastern Connecticut 58-57
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) scored 14 of her
21 points in the second half, including eight of the Huskies’ final 13 points,
to lead the University of Southern Maine to a thrilling 58-57 win over the
Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in a Little East Conference
women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The win is the fifth straight for USM, which improves to 18-7 overall and
10-4 in the Little East. The loss snaps a two-game win streak for the Warriors
who fall to 17-8 and 10-4 in the conference. Southern Maine will be the third
seed in the Little East Conference tournament and will host sixth seeded UMass
Dartmouth on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) Eastern will be the second seed in the upcoming
LEC tournament and will receive a first round bye. The Warriors will host
either USM or UMass Dartmouth on Friday, February 26 (7:30 p.m.).
Leighton finished the game 7-for-14 from the field and 7-for-8 from the
free throw lie to lead three USM players in double figures. The 5-9 forward
also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added a blocked shot despite playing
just 25 minutes due to foul trouble. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine)
added 11 points and four rebounds, while senior forward Haley Johnson (West
Simsbury, Conn.) tossed in 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Junior guard Brittany Whiteley (Windsor Locks, Conn.) led the Warriors with
a team-high 18 points on an outstanding 7-for-10 mark from the field. Whiteley
added a game-high five assists. Freshman forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford,
Conn./East Catholic) was 6-for-7 from the field for 15 points, while junior
forward Amanda Pierlioni (Plainville, Conn.) added 10 points and seven rebounds.
With the exception of the first basket of the game, the Huskies trailed
Eastern Connecticut the entire opening half and by as many as eight points,
before closing out the half with 7-0 run to steal the momentum from Eastern
Connecticut and nab a 34-33 halftime lead. DeMillo was instrumental in the
Huskies first half rush, scoring all seven of her team’s points on a pair of
free throws, a three-pointer and a buzzer-beating lay-up after a Johnson
defensive rebounds and outlet pass.
The second half saw six tied scores and eight lead changes as both teams
battled back and forth. Neither team led by more than two baskets, for the final
20 minutes of the contest, with Southern Maine grabbing the largest lead, 47-43,
at the 10 minute mark following a jumper from Leighton.
USM led by three, 52-49, following one of two free throws from DeMillo with
5:50 to play, before Eastern scored four straight points to take its final lead
of the game, 53-52, with 4:01 remaining. Sophomore forward Piper Chapman
(Falmouth, Mass.) and Carter each scored two points. Leighton quickly regained
the advantage for the Huskies sinking a pair of free throws on the Huskies
ensuing possession, and Johnson came up with two big stops over Eastern’s next
two possessions with a blocked shot and a defensive rebounds and steal, before
canning a pair of free throws of her own to put USM up 56-53 with 2:30 to play.
Both teams traded points over the next possessions as Whiteley sunk two
free throws and Leighton scored in the paint for a 58-55 USM lead with 1:00 to
play, before Whiteley scored a driving lay-up to put Eastern within one with
just 38 seconds remaining.
During its final possession, USM missed the basket and turned the ball over
on a shot clock violation and Eastern regained the ball, but a potential game-
winner on a tough look at the basket by junior guard Jessica Moriarity (East
Haven, Conn.) was off the mark and Leighton corralled the rebound as the Huskies
held on for the win.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Leighton Nets 20, Huskies Defeat UMass Boston 52-43
BOSTON – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) scored a game-high
20 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the University of Southern Maine
Huskies to a 52-43 win over the UMass Boston Beacons in a Little East Conference
women’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Clark Athletic Center in Boston.
Southern Maine improves to 17-7 overall with the win and improves its
Little East Conference record to 9-4. With its 15th consecutive loss, UMass
Boston falls to 4-20 and remains winless in the LEC at 0-13.
Leighton was 9-for-16 from the field en route to the game high total and
added three steals. Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) added nine rebounds, a game-high eight rebounds and four
assists, while sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) turned
in a solid all-around performance with nine points, nine steals, six rebounds
and five assists.
Junior forward Cammy Brown (Malden, Mass.) led the Beacons with 12 points
off of the bench. Brown was a solid 5-for-7 from the field while grabbing five
rebounds. Freshman guard Bethany Rossoll (Colorado Springs, Colo./Thomas B.
Doherty) added nine points.
Southern Maine took control of the game in the first half, holding the
Beacons to just six first half field goals (6-for-22), a 27.3 shooting
percentage and forcing UMass Boston into 17 first half turnovers. The Huskies
took a commanding 29-14 lead at the break led by nine points from Leighton and
seven from Nicholas.
The Huskies maintained their lead throughout the second half, leading by as
many as 18 points. The Huskies led by 16, 50-34, with 6:14 to play before the
Beacons strung together 9-0 to trim their deficit to seven, 50-43, with 2:33 to
play. UMass Boston received scoring contributions from three different players
in the run, including four points from Brown. During the Beacon run, Southern
Maine went 0-for-5 from the field in the final six minutes of the second half,
recording its final field goal at 6:14 of regulation on a lay-up from junior
guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine).
The Beacons were unable to get any closer than seven points however,
missing on three possessions and turning the ball over once.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 43.4 percent (23-for-53) from the
field, despite making just 1-of-13 from three point range. UMass Boston shot
37.0 percent (17-for-46) from the field, committing 30 turnovers.
Southern Maine hosts Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday (1:00
p.m.) in its final regular season home game. UMass Boston will face Western
Connecticut on the road on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
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Monday, February 15, 2010
Leighton Sweeps LEC, MWBCA and NEWBA Rookie of the Week Honors
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) of the
University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team has swept the
Rookie of the Week honors from Little East Conference (LEC), Maine Women’s
Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) and New England Women’s Basketball
Association (NEWBA) for the fourth time this season. Leighton earned the
accolades for the week ending Sunday, February 14.
This week’s honors mark the seventh time this season that Leighton has been
named the LEC (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec, 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 2, Feb. 8 and Feb. 15)
and the MWBCA (Nov. 24, Nov. 30., Dec. 14., Jan. 11., Feb. 2, Feb. 8 and Feb.
15) Rookie of the Week. Leighton has been recognized by NEWBA on four occasions
(Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Feb. 8 and Feb. 15) and has been named both the NEWBA Player
of the Week and LEC Player of the Week once (Jan. 11 and Feb. 8).
Leighton averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and
1.5 blocks per game in wins over Plymouth State and Rhode Island College. The
5-9 forward scored 19 points and had eight rebounds against PSU. Against RIC at
home, Leighton scored a game-high 25 points on an outstanding 11-for-15 effort
from the floor with eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
Leighton finished the week shooting 56.7 percent (17-for-30) from the field,
80.0 percent (8-for-10) from the free throw line and 33.3 percent (2-for-6) from
three-point range.
Leighton currently leads the Huskies and the Little East Conference in
scoring averaging 15.7 points per game while shooting 44.6 percent (136-for-305)
from the field . She is second on the team in rebounding averaging 8.3 rebounds
per game and steals nabbing 1.60 per contest.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) at UMass Boston.
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Saturday, February 13, 2010
Huskies Use Balanced Attack to Defeat Rhode Island College 76-62
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) led four
players in double figures with 25 points and eight rebounds as the University of
Southern Maine downed the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen 76-62 in a Little
East Conference women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in
Gorham, Maine.
The win is the third straight for the Huskies who improve to 16-7 overall
and 8-4 in the Little East. Rhode Island College, which entered the game riding
a six game winning streak, falls to 15-8 overall and 6-6 in the conference.
Leighton was dominant in the paint shooting an outstanding 11-for-15 from
the field, adding four assists and two blocked shots to compliment her eight
rebounds. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) had 14
points and a game-high eight steals, while senior forward Haley Johnson (West
Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) each
added 12 points. Johnson recorded her seventh double double of the season with
12 rebounds, while DeMillo had a game-high six assists.
Sophomore forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, Rhode Island) paced the
Anchorwomen with a strong 19 points and team-high 11 rebounds to notch her 10th
double double of the season. Senior guard Denise Scott (Yonkers, N.Y./Lincoln)
was the only other player in double figures for RIC netting 15 points and
grabbing seven rebounds.
Both teams battled back and forth in the opening nine minutes of the first
half and a lay-up from RIC’s Riley pulled the score even at 13 with 11:15 to
play. However, the Huskies outscored the Anchorwomen 25-8 to close out the half
and enter the locker room up by 17, 38-21, at the break. The Huskies received
scoring contributions from seven players in the pivotal run, including six
points each from Johnson and DeMillo.
Southern Maine ended the half shooting an outstanding 57.7 percent (15-for-
26) from the field, while playing solid defense, forcing RIC into 20 first half
turnovers. The Huskies scored 25 of their first half points off of turnovers,
led by six steals and nine points from Nicholas.
USM opened the second half on an 18-10 run in the first six minutes to grab
its largest lead, 56-31, with 13:52 to play. Leighton scored nine of her 25
points during the six-minute stretch. From there, Southern Maine cruised to the
win, leading by as much as 20 points with 3:49 remaining.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 57.4 percent (31-for-54) from the
field and 66.7 percent (6-for-9) from three-point range. Rhode Island College
shot 39.3 percent (22-for-56) from the floor and finished the game with 26
turnovers.
Southern Maine travels to UMass Boston on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.). Rhode
Island College is at UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
DeMillo and Leighton Guide Huskies Past Plymouth State 67-60
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) and freshman
forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) combined to score 42 points and lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 67-60 win over the Plymouth State
University Panthers in a Little East Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday
night at Foley Gymnasium in Plymouth, N.H.
With the win, the Huskies improve to 15-7 overall and 7-4 in the Little
East Conference. The loss is the third in a row for the Panthers who fall to
14-7 overall and 4-7 in the conference.
DeMillo canned a season-high seven three-pointers to net a game-high 23
points. The 5-7 guard was 7-for-16 from long range and added four rebounds.
Leighton added 19 points on a 6-for-15 effort from the floor and grabbed a team-
high eight rebounds. Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) tossed in 11 points.
Plymouth State sophomore forward Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H./Central)
recorded a double-double with a team-high 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds
to lead three PSU players in double digits. Senior forward Laura Kent
(Bellingham, Mass.) added 15 points, while junior forward Amanda Kania
(Manchester, N.H./West) chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.
After a neck-and-neck first half, which saw seven lead changes, both teams
entered the halftime break tied at 28. The Huskies’ Leighton gave USM a three-
point lead after a layup with 18 seconds left in the half, before freshman guard
Colleen O’Hara (Otego, N.Y.) sank a three with three seconds to play for the tie
score.
Southern Maine opened the second half on a 16-6 run to lead the Panthers
44-34 with 14:17 on the clock. Both DeMillo and Leighton scored six points in
the run. The Panthers hung around and stayed with in a few possessions of the
Huskies before fighting their way back to trail the Huskies by one with 1:18 in
regulation. Trailing by eight, 56-48, following a three-pointer from DeMillo
with 5:58 to play, Plymouth State outscored USM 12-5 over the next five minutes
and nine seconds to trail 61-60. The Panthers rallied on the heels of five
points each from Kent and Doucet in the run. The Huskies were able to gut out
the victory however making six of eight free throws in the final minute of play.
Southern Maine hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
Plymouth State hosts UMass Boston on Saturday (2:30 p.m.).
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Monday, February 8, 2010
Leighton Named LEC Player and Rookie of the Week
Freshman Forward Also Named NEWBA Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – After a pair of standout performances over two games,
University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball freshman forward Curran
Leighton (Dover, N.H.) has earned a trio of accolades for the week ending
February 7, 2010. Leighton earned honors from both the Little East Conference
(LEC) and the New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA).
The 5-9 forward was named both the Little East Conference Rookie and Player
of the Week. It marked the sixth time this season that Leighton has been named
the conference’s Rookie of the Week (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 2
and Feb. 8) and the first time that she has been named the LEC Player of the
Week (Feb. 8). Leighton was also selected as the NEWBA Rookie of the Week
marking her third time being selected for the award (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, and Feb.
8) and fourth time that she has been recognized by NEWBA this season as she had
been named the NEWBA Player of the Week once (Jan. 11). The Maine Women’s
Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) has also recognized Leighton on five
occasions as its Rookie of the Week (Nov. 24, Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Jan. 11 and Feb.
1).
In a 1-1 week for Southern Maine, Leighton averaged 23.5 points, 8.0
rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. In a LEC win over
UMass Dartmouth, Leighton had 25 points and nine rebounds while matching her
career-high in assists with five. She also added three blocks and two steals.
Against Colby, Leighton scored 22 points, including a 3-for-4 effort from three-
point range. She also had seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a
blocked shot.
Leighton leads Southern Maine in scoring averaging 15.1 points per game.
She is second in rebounding averaging 8.4 per game. Through 21 games, she is
averaging 2.1 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. She is shooting 43.3
percent (119-275) from the field and 42.9 percent (15-35) from three-point
range. She leads the Huskies at the free throw line shooting 81.3 percent (65-
80).
Southern Maine travels to Plymouth State University on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
UMass Dartmouth hosts UMass Boston on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Leighton Pours In 25 Leads Southern Maine Past UMass Dartmouth 63-56
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) poured in
a game-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds and senior forward Haley Johnson
(West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) added 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to
lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 63-56 Little East Conference
win over the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in
Gorham, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the
conference. The Corsairs fall to 8-13 and 3-7 in the Little East with the loss.
Leighton was 7-for-15 from the floor and an outstanding 11-for-12 from the
free throw line to lead the Huskies. It was her third straight game scoring at
least 20 points for the Huskies and sixth game overall this season. Leighton
also had five assists, three blocks and two steals. Johnson’s double double was
her sixth of the season. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added eight
points.
Freshman guard Jessica Howlett (North Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) led three
Corsairs in double figures with 13 points, including a trio of three-pointers.
Senior guard Madison Malloy (Cranston, Rhode Island/Bay View Academy) added 12
points off of the bench, while junior guard Lynley DeAmato (Melrose, Mass.)
chipped in with 10 points on a 4-for-8 mark from the field.
After shooting 50.0 percent (11-for-22) in the first half and taking a 34-
24 lead at the break, Southern Maine rolled out to a 43-27 lead three minutes
into the second half before allowing the Corsairs back into the game. USM took
its largest lead of the game, 16 points, with 17:16 to play on a 9-3 run to open
the second stanza. The Corsairs stormed back to within five, 43-38, over the
next five minutes on an 11-0 run fueled by nine points from Howlett.
With its lead trimmed to five with 12:57 to play, USM’s Johnson halted the
scoring drought sinking a lay-up and making a free throw to convert a
traditional three-point to put the Huskies up eight, 46-38, with 11:26 to play.
The score bounced back and forth between six and eight points, before the
Corsairs again made a run at the Huskies pulling to within a basket with just
under six minutes to play. After a pair of free throws from Leighton put USM up
50-42, the Corsairs rattled off five straight points on a lay up from DeAmato
and a traditional three-point play Malloy to trail 50-47 with 5:58 on the clock.
The Huskies responded however with six straight points on a lay-up from Leighton
and back-to-back buckets from Johnson. USM led by 11, 62-51, with 37 seconds
to play, before the Corsairs outscored the Huskies 5-1 in the final 20 seconds
to the 63-56 final.
Southern Maine travels to Plymouth State University on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
UMass Dartmouth hosts UMass Boston on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Colby Defeats Southern Maine 64-54
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman guard Diana Manduca (Portland, Maine/Deering)
scored a team-high 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting off of the bench to lead four
players in double figures as the Colby College Mules held on for a 64-54 win
over the University of Southern Maine Huskies Tuesday night in a non-conference
women’s basketball game in Hill Gymnasium at Gorham, Maine.
The win is the first for the Mules over the Huskies since the 2001 season.
Colby improves to 16-3 with the win, while the Huskies slip to 13-7 with the
loss.
Manduca led a balances attack with 14 points and added three steals.
Senior forward Alison Cappelloni (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) and sophomore
guard Aarika Ritchie (Lee, Maine/Lee Academy) each tossed in 12 points, while
Cappelloni added six rebounds and a Ritchie passed off four assists. Sophomore
forward Rachael Mack (Augusta, Maine/Cony) had 11 points and six rebounds.
USM freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) led all scorers with 22
points on a 8-for-16 mark from the floor including a 3-for-4 effort from three-
point range. Leighton added seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a
blocked shot. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) had
nine points, eight rebounds and four steals, while senior forward Haley Johnson
(West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) tossed in eight points, six rebounds and five
steals.
Despite both teams shooting in the high twenties in the opening half, Colby
was able to take a solid 33-24 halftime lead thanks in part to a 5-for-14 effort
from three-point range. Manduca and Cappelloni each scored nine 14 points in
the opening half.
In the second half, the Mules used a 6-0 run to open up its largest lead of
the game, 45-31, with 12:11 to play. Ahead by eight, 39-31, with 14:40 on the
clock, the Mules used consecutive baskets from Ritchie, Manduca and sophomore
forward Jill Vaughan (Wareham, Mass./Tabor Academy) to pull away from Southern
Maine.
The Mules maintained between an 11-to-13 point lead for the next six
minutes before the Huskies battled back to within five points, 52-47, with 5:56
remaining. Following a three-pointer from senior guard Samantha Allen
(Bridgton, Maine/Lake Region) to go ahead 52-39 with 8:15 to play, the Huskies
scored eight straight points, including a pair of baskets from Nicholas.
Colby’s Mack halted the run with a lay-up with 5:39 to play to put her team
ahead 54-47 and after one of two free throws from Leighton, the Mules took a
nine-point, 57-48, lead after a traditional three-point play from Ritchie with
4:33 to play.
In the final four minutes of action, the Huskies twice cut the Colby
advantage to two possessions, but each time the Mules responded with a three-
pointer, first from Cappelloni and then from Manduca.
Southern Maine hosts UMass Dartmouth on Saturday (1 p.m.) in a Little East
Conference game. Colby College travels to Williams College on Friday (6:00
p.m.).
################################################################################
Monday, February 1, 2010
Leighton Earns LEC Rookie of the Week Honors for Fifth Time
GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine Huskies freshman forward
Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) has been named the Little East Conference Rookie
of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 31, 2010. It is the fifth time
this season that Leighton has earned the conference’s rookie of the week
accolade.
Leighton averaged 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per
game in two games for Southern Maine. The 5-10 forward shot 42.9 percent (12-
for-28) from the field and 88.9 percent (8-for-9) from the free throw line. In
a 55-31 win against UMass Boston, Leighton notched her team-leading seventh
double double of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three
steals in just 28 minutes of action. In 24 minutes at Keene State, Leighton had
22 points on a 7-for-13 effort from the field.
Leighton, who leads the Huskies in scoring average at 14.3 points per game,
has been name the LEC Rookie of the Week on November 30, December 7 and 14,
January 11 and February 1. She has also been named the Maine Women’s Basketball
Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week five times (Nov. 24, Nov. 30,
Dec. 14, Jan. 11 and Feb. 1). Leighton has also been recognized by the New
England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) three times, earning rookie of
the week honors twice (Nov. 30, Dec. 14) and player of the week once (Jan. 11).
In the Little East Conference, Leighton is fifth in scoring (14.3 ppg) and
rebounding (8.4 rpg), second in blocked shots (2.1 bpg), fourth in free throw
shooting 83.6 percent (51-for-61) and 15th in assists (1.94 apg).
Southern Maine hosts Colby College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) in a non-
conference game.
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Saturday, January 30, 2010
Southern Maine Rally Falls Short at Keene State, 69-62
KEENE, N.H. – Senior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) netted a
game-high 26 points to lead three players in double figures as the Keene State
College Owls withstood a second half comeback bid to defeat the University of
Southern Maine Huskies 69-62 in a Little East Conference women’s basketball game
Saturday afternoon at Spaulding Gymnasium in Keene, N.H.
The win is the second straight for the Owls who improve to 13-6 and 5-4 in
the Little East. The loss drops Southern Maine to 13-6 and 5-4 in the
conference.
Simmer was a solid 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-5 from three-point
range to earn game-high scoring honors. Simmler added seven rebounds and a
game-high five assists. Senior guard Kristin Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) added
19 points and senior guard Alyssa Sapp (Hartford, Vt.) tossed in 10 points.
Southern Maine freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) led the
Huskies with 22 points despite early foul trouble. Sophomore guard Renee
Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) and junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay,
Maine) each scored 12 points. Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) chipped in with six points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Keene State roared out to a 41-29 lead at the half after shooting an
outstanding 57.7 percent (15-for-26) from the field, including a 9-for-12 effort
from three-point range. Degou and Simmler each scored 15 points in the half.
Degou was lights out from beyond the arc in the opening half sinking 5-of-5
three-pointers. The Huskies struggled offensively in the opening half, making
just eight first half field goals to finish the half shooting just 30.8 percent
(8-for-26) from the field.
In the second half, Southern Maine trailed by as many as 21 points, 52-31,
with 13:34 to play following a jumper from Simmler, before stringing together a
23-5 run over the next six and half minutes to trail by three, 57-54, with 7:27
to play. Leighton took control of the game during the run, scoring 14 of her 22
points to put the Huskies back in contention.
A pair of Johnson free throws closed out the run to bring USM to within a
basket of the Owls, but Degou canned her lone field goal of the half, a three-
pointer, for a 60-54 lead with 5:43 to play. The Huskies continued to battle
the Owls but were unable to get closer than four points in the final five
minutes of action as Keene State went 7-for-10 from the free throw line to
secure the win.
Southern Maine hosts Colby College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) in a non-
conference game. Keene State is at Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00
p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Southern Maine Handles UMass Boston 55-31
Nicholas Sets Single Game Mark for Steals With 13
GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region)
finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double and established a new record for
steals in a game with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and 13 steals to
help the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 55-31 win over the UMass
Boston Beacons in a Little East Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night
at Hill Gymnasium.
The win lifts the Huskies’ record to 13-5 overall and improves their Little
East Conference record to 5-3. UMass Boston falls to 4-14 overall and remains
winless in the conference at 0-8.
Nicholas broke the 28-year-old record for single-game steals formerly held
by USM All-American Maureen Burchill. Burchill had 11 thefts against Dominican
College on February 26, 1982.
Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 12 points and freshman
forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) collected her team-leading seventh double
double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Molly Piette (Webster, Mass./Bartlett) led the Beacons
with eight points on a 3-for-5 effort off of the bench. Freshman guard
Elizabeth Dow (Marshfield, Mass.) had five points and a game-high 11 rebounds,
including six offensive boards.
The Huskies used a strong defensive effort in the first half, limiting the
Beacons to just a 3-for-20 effort from the field, to open up a commanding 26-10
lead at the break. Leighton scored all 12 of her points in the first half,
while grabbing seven rebounds, while Nicholas collected eight of her 13 steals.
Southern Maine remained in control of the game in the second half, holding
the Beacons scoreless for the first 10 minutes while scoring 17 unanswered
points open up a 33-point (43-10) lead. DeMillo scored eight of her 12 points,
including a pair of three-pointers, while Nicholas chipped in with four points.
The Beacons ended their dry spell with 9:51 remaining on a pair of free
throws from freshman guard Kate Levy (Falmouth, Mass.) for their first points of
the half. Levy’s free throws kick started a 12-0 run by the Beacons to trim the
USM lead to 21, 43-22, with 7:39 on the clock. Piette was responsible for six of
the Beacons 12 points in the run, sinking two threes.
Southern Maine responded to the Beacon effort, netting six unanswered
points to push its lead back to 27, 49-22, following lay-up from freshman
forward Meredith Reid (York, Maine) and back-to-back lay-ups from DeMillo. From
there the Beacons were unable to get any closer than 22 points in the final
three minutes of action.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) when it travels to
Keene State College. UMass Boston hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00
p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Western Connecticut Surges Past Southern Maine 67-50
DANBURY, Conn. – Junior forward Katie Moffo (Southington, Conn.) and
junior guard Karli Spera (Waterford, Conn.) combined to score 41 points,
including 34 in the second half to lead the Western Connecticut State University
Colonials to a 67-50 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies Saturday
afternoon in a Little East Conference women’s basketball game at Feldman Arena
in Danbury, Conn.
With the win, the Colonials improve to 16-2 overall and remain undefeated
in the Little East Conference at 7-0. The loss drops the Huskies to 12-5
overall and 4-3 in the conference.
Trailing 35-25 at the half, Western Connecticut stormed out of the gates to
being the second half and quickly erased its deficit en route to the win.
Earning its second straight come-from-behind win after trailing by double-
figures at the half, the Colonials relied on big second half numbers from Moffo
and Spera. In the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza, the Colonials
outscored USM 21-6 to turn a 10-point deficit into a five-point, 46-41, lead
with 10:42 on the clock. Moffo scored nine of her points in the decisive run,
while Spera tossed in eight.
After a Spera three put WCONN ahead 46-41, USM trimmed the lead to three
with a free throw from junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) and a short
jumper from freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) to trail 46-44 with
8:35 to play. The Colonials however responded with a 10-2 run effectively
putting the game out of reach for the Huskies who were ice cold from the field
in the second half making just six field goals. In the 10-2 run, Moffo tossed
in five of the Colonials’ points.
Spera led Western Connecticut with 21 points, while Moffo finished with 20
points and six rebounds. Junior forward Heather Lee (Seymour, Conn.) added 18
points.
USM senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) recorded a
double double in the loss with 17 points and 14 rebounds. DeMillo was the only
other USM player in double-figures with 10 points. Hampered with foul trouble,
Leighton finished the game with eight points, five rebounds and four blocked
shots.
Southern Maine hosts UMass Boston on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.). The Colonials
host in state and LEC rival Eastern Connecticut on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Leighton Named MWBCA Rookie of the Week for the Fifth Time This Season
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) of the
University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team has been named the
Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week for the
week ending Sunday, January 18, 2010. The award marks the fifth time this
season that Leighton has earned MWBCA Rookie of the Week honors this season.
Leighton nearly averaged a double double with 13.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and
3.0 blocks per game in a 1-1 week on the road for Southern Maine. During the
two-game stretch, Leighton earned her sixth double double of the season with a
team-best 18 points and 11 rebounds against Rhode Island College while playing
the entire 40 minutes for the Huskies. Against Eastern Connecticut, Leighton
put together a solid eight points and eight rebounds.
The 5-10 forward leads Southern Maine in scoring and rebounding averaging
14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. She is shooting a solid 42.7 percent
(88-for-206) from the field. From three-point range, Leighton has shot 41.7
percent (10-for-24) from the floor. She is averaging 2.1 assists, 2.0 blocks
and 1.6 steals per game.
In the conference, Leighton is fifth in the LEC in scoring, fourth in
rebounding and second in the conference in blocked shots. She is also in the
top 15 in shooting percentage, assists, and free throw percentage.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) at Western
Connecticut State University. Plymouth State travels to UMass Dartmouth on
Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Huskies Shoot Past Plymouth State 72-47
GORHAM, Maine – Senior forward Ruthie Briggs (Sanford, Maine) scored a
career-high 18 points to lead three players in double-figures as the University
of Southern Maine Huskies downed the Plymouth State University Panthers 72-47 in
Little East Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium
in Gorham.
With the win Southern Maine improves to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in the Little
East. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Panthers who fall to 13-4
and 3-3 in the conference.
Briggs was 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to
pace the Huskies. The 5-11 forward added five rebounds. Junior guard Kaylie
DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two
steals and sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) chipped in
with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and a game-best seven steals.
Nicholas was 5-for-9 from the floor. Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover,
N.H.) tied her career-high with a game-leading 14 rebounds to compliment seven
points.
Sophomore forward Alicia Doucet (Manchester, N.H./Central) led the Panthers
with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Laura Kent
(Bellingham, Mass.) added nine points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Colleen
O’Hara (Otego, N.Y./Unatego Central) netted nine points off of the bench.
Leading 21-18 with 3:14 to play, Southern Maine outscored Plymouth State
10-0 to close out the half and take a 31-18 lead at the break. The Huskies got
three-pointers from both Leighton and DeMillo in the run, while Briggs notched a
traditional three-point play on a lay-up and a free throw.
In the second half, USM posted a 19-point advantage, 41-22, in the first
five minutes after opening up the half with a 10-4 run, including five straight
points from Briggs. The Panthers twice cut their deficit to 16 points, but it
was as close as they would get the rest of the way as the Huskies led by as many
as 31 points, 64-33, with 4:46 remaining.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting a solid 49.1 percent (27-for-55)
from the field and 70.6 percent (12-for-17) from the free throw line. The
Panthers shot 27.3 percent (15-for-55) from the floor and 57.1 percent (12-for-
21) from the charity stripe.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) at Western
Connecticut State University. Plymouth State travels to UMass Dartmouth on
Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, January 16, 2009
Eastern Connecticut Edges Out Southern Maine 54-52
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Freshman forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford,
Conn./East Catholic) sank a pair of free throws with three seconds remain to
deliver a 54-52 win for the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors over
the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference women’s
basketball game Saturday afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium in Willimantic, Conn.
With the win Eastern Connecticut improves to 11-3 overall and 5-0 in the
Little East. The loss snaps a seven game winning streak for Southern Maine who
fall to 11-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
Carter finished the game with nine points and 11 rebounds. Junior forward
Amanda Pierloni (Plainville, Conn.) led the Warriors with 12 points and nine
rebounds, while freshman center Lauren Kelleher (Dartmouth, Mass.) added 11
points.
Senior forwad Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and sophomore
guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) each had 14 points for the
Huskies. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 11 points.
Trailing by nine, 52-43, with 3:40 to play, Southern Maine rallied to knot
the score up at 52 with 26 seconds remaining. The Huskies made just nine first
half field goals, but rebounded to shoot 44.0 percent (11-for-25) in the second
half.
Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State University on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
Eastern Connecticut hosts Keene State on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Southern Maine Holds Off Rhode Island College 66-62
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.)
scored 12 of her game-high 18 points to lead the University of Southern Maine
Huskies to a 66-62 win over the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen in Little East
Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Murray Center in
Providence, Rhode Island.
The win is the seventh straight for Southern Maine to improve to 11-3
overall and 3-1 in the Little East. Rhode Island College falls to 9-5 overall
and 1-3 in the conference.
Leighton was one of three USM players in double figures, leading USM with
18 points and 11 rebounds. It was the fourth straight double double for the 5-9
forward who was 7-for-16 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free
throw line. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) scored 14 points and had
three assists and three steals, while senior forward Haley Johnson (West
Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) notched a double double with 13 points and 10
rebounds.
Senior guard Denise Scott (Yonkers, N.Y.) had 14 points, five rebounds and
eight steals to pace the Anchorwomen off of the bench. Senior guard Alice
Mullen (Saunderstown, R.I./South Kingston) tossed in 13 points off of the bench,
while sophomore forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) added a double-double with
12 points and 11 rebounds.
Both teams struggle offensively in the first half, with Rhode Island
College shooting just 30.6 percent (11-for-36) from the field and USM committing
14 of its 21 turnovers in the opening stanza, and entered the locker room tied
at 28 points a piece. DeMillo scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half to
keep the Huskies afloat despite struggling with turnovers.
In the second half, USM seemed on its way to a comfortable victory
outscoring RIC 14-2 in the first seven minutes to open up a 42-30 lead with
13:05 remaining. Johnson netted six of her 13 points in the scoring spurt for
the Huskies. RIC was 1-for-12 during the stretch and committed four of its 15
turnovers in the game.
RIC fought back over the next ten minutes and chipped away at the Huskies
lead, cutting the deficit to three points on a lay-up from sophomore guard
Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) with 5:49 to play and again at 4:45
remaining on a three-pointer from Mullen. However, each time USM was able to
recover a two-possession lead as its forward tandem of Leighton and Johnson
earned key baskets in the paint.
Southern Maine led by five, 57-52, with 4:14 to play following an offensive
rebound and a put-back from Leighton, before RIC rode Scott for 6-2 run to trail
59-58 with 2:39 on the clock. Scott netted one of two free throws to start the
mini run, added a steal and a lay-up and then sank a three-pointer. DeMillo,
who finished the game 7-for-7 from the free throw line, interrupted Scott’s
scoring with a pair of free throws.
After the Scott three, Leighton put the Huskies’ ahead 61-58 with a layup,
before Scott tied brought her team back to even with a traditional three-point
play with a layup and a free throw for a 61-61 contest with 1:59 to play.
With the game on the line, USM outscored RIC 5-1 over the final minutes,
including/ three straight points on one of two free throws from sophomore Renee
Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) and a lay-up from DeMillo after a Leighton
offensive board. RIC’s Riley made one of two free throws with 1:01 to play for
a 64-62 game, and after a missed possession for both teams, Leighton swatted
away a potential tying basket with 16 seconds to play. Leighton finished the
game with two free throws for the 66-62 final.
Southern Maine travels to Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (1:00
p.m.). Rhode Island College travels to Plymouth State on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Monday, January 11, 2010
Southern Maine’s DeMillo and Leighton Sweep LEC and MWBCA Honors
Leighton Named New England Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball
players, junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) and freshman forward Curran
Leighton (Dover, N.H.) each were awarded weekly honors for their outstanding
play for the week ending Sunday, January 10.
DeMillo was named the Little East Conference and Maine Women’s Basketball
Player of the Week and Leighton earned the LEC and MWBCA Rookie of the Week
honor as the Huskies swept both organizations’ weekly honor program. Leighton
was also named the New England Women’s Basketball Association Player of the
Week.
DeMillo and Leighton led Southern Maine to a 3-0 week, including a double-
overtime win on the road and a narrow 61-60 road win in Little East Conference
action. DeMillo is earning her first awards of the season after averaging 20.0
points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.67 steals per game. The 5-7 guard,
reached double figures scoring in all three games, netting a season-high 27
points in a 79-74 double overtime win at Husson University on January 6. In
USM’s 74-59 win against Regis College (Mass.), DeMillo set a career-high mark
for assists with eight, while tossing in 15 points. In the Huskies’ lone
conference game of the week, she had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Leighton, who has been named the LEC and MWBCA Rookie of the Week four
times, was awarded the NEWBA Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Leighton has previously been named the NEWBA Rookie of the Week twice. Leighton
racked up a trio of double-doubles during the week averaging 20.0 points, 13.0
rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Over the course of
the week, Leighton shot 44.8 percent (22-for-49) from the field and 81.2 percent
(13-for-16) from the free throw line. The 5-10 forward opened the week with 10
points and a career-best 14 rebounds in USM’s win over Regis and then had 23
points and 12 rebounds in the Huskies’ double-overtime win at Husson. Against
UMass Dartmouth, Leighton notched a career-best 27 points and grabbed 13
rebounds on the road.
Leighton is Southern Maine’s leading scorer averaging 15.1 points per game
while shooting 43.8 percent (74-169) from the field. She is second on the team
in rebounds averaging 8.4 per game. In the LEC, she is fifth in scoring, sixth
in rebounding and second in blocked shots (2.1 per game).
DeMillo is the Huskies’ second leading scorer averaging 12.9 points per
game and leads the team in assists with 3.7 per game. She is ninth in the LEC
in scoring, fourth in assists and second in three-point field goals made (30).
Southern Maine travels to Rhode Island College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) for a
Little East Conference game.
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
Huskies Rally To Defeat UMass Dartmouth
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.)
and junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) combined to score 45 points to lead
the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 61-60 come-from-behind win over
the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs Saturday afternoon in a Little East Conference
women’s basketball game at the Tripp Center in North Dartmouth, Mass.
Winning their sixth game in a row, Southern Maine improves to 10-3 overall
and 2-1 in the Little East Conference. UMass Dartmouth drops to 5-7 and 0-3 in
the LEC.
Leighton was 7-for-17 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free throw line
to net her career-high 23 points. The 5-9 forward also set a career mark in
rebounds with 13. DeMillo tossed in 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, had a
game-high five assists and added two steals in 39 minutes of action for the
short-handed Huskies. Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) added 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as USM held a 41-
31 advantage on the glass.
Junior forward Tashauna Ashmeade (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) led the
Corsairs with 16 points and 11 rebounds off of the bench. Junior guard Lynley
DeAmato (Melrose, Mass.) added 10 points as the Corsairs received a balanced
scoring effort. Senior forward Kaylin Nelson (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford)
added nine points, while freshman forward Colleen Moriarty (Canton, Mass.)
tossed in eight points.
After a sub par shooting performance in the first half, Southern Maine
trailed the Corsairs 38-29. Ashmeade scored nine of her 16 points in the
opening half, as UMD shot a solid 44.1 percent (15-for-34). Leighton kept the
Huskies in the game in the first half, scoring 16 of her 27 as the Huskies made
just nine first half field goals while shooting 34.6 percent.
UMass Dartmouth outscored USM 14-5 in the final five minutes of the first
half to take its nine-point halftime advantage led by five points by Ashmeade.
The Huskies were 2-for-4 from the field during that stretch but turned the ball
over six times.
In the second half, UMD opened up its lead to 11 points, 42-31, early
following two free throws from Nelson and a layup by Moriarity. The Huskies
rallied to take the lead with a 12-0 run and took a slim 43-42 lead with 12:57
to play.
The Corsairs pushed back and regained their lead with a 4-0 mini run to
lead 46-43, before DeMillo sank one of her four three-pointers of the game to
knot the score up at 46 with 10:40 to play. Both teams battled back and fourth
over the next four minutes before Southern Maine’s Johnson nabbed one of her
five offensive boards of the night and sank the layup for a 52-52 tie with 6:30
to play.
After botched possession by both squads, one of two free throws from Husky
junior forward Kristen Hurd (Fryeburg, Maine/Drury) gave the Huskies the lead
for good, 53-52, with 5:11 to play. Layups from DeMillo and Johnson bookended a
single free throw from UMD for a 57-53 USM lead with 3:19 on the clock.
The Corsairs cut the lead to one possession twice over the final minutes of
the contest trailing by two, 57-55, with 2:39 on the clock and by one with 1:11
to play following a long three-pointer from junior guard Lynley DeAmato
(Melrose, Mass.), but each time the Huskies were able to answer. First with a
driving layup from DeMillo and then a second chance bucket from Leighton for a
61-58 Husky lead with 15 seconds on the clock.
UMD had a chance to tie the score up with a three-pointer in its final
possession, but Ashmeade’s layup with two seconds on the clock allowed USM to
run out the time and slip away with the win.
Southern Maine travels to Rhode Island College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.). The
Corsairs host Eastern Connecticut on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Southern Maine Fights Off Husson 79-74 in Double Overtime
BANGOR, Maine – Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) scored seven of
her season-high 27 points in the second overtime period to help the University
of Southern Maine Huskies to a 79-74 double-overtime win over the Husson
University Eagles Wednesday evening at Newman Gymnasium in Bangor, Maine.
Playing their third game in four days, the Huskies earned their fifth
straight win to improve to 9-3 overall. The Eagles fall to 3-7 on the season.
DeMillo was 8-for-20 from the field, including a quartet of three-pointers
and sank 7-of-9 free throws to net her season high 27 points. Freshman forward
Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) recorded her fourth double double of the season
with a career-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. Leighton was 11-for-18 from the
field and added three blocked shots and two steals. Sophomore guard Renee
Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) chipped in with 10 points, four rebounds,
four assists and four steals.
Sophomore forward Brianna Hanscom (Mattawamkeag, Maine/Mattanawcook
Academy) led the Eagles with 26 point and 11 rebounds, while senior forward
Shelby Bradford (Lee, Maine/Lee Academy) tossed in 15 points, a game-high 17
rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sophomore guard Amanda Gifford (Lee,
Maine/Lee Academy) added 11 points.
After running out to a 33-25 halftime lead on the strength of 17 first half
points from Leighton, the Huskies found themselves heading into overtime after
Husson stormed back in the second half, outscoring USM 36-28. Both teams shot
fairly well from the field in the second half, with USM making 12-of-28 field
goals compared to Husson’s 10-for-26 effort and both teams making a pair of
three pointers; however, Husson was on target from the free throw line sinking
14-of-20 (70.0 percent) from the charity stripe. Conversely, USM nearly shot
itself out of the game from the free throw line making just 2-of-10 in the
second half.
The first overtime period was a back and forth battle that saw three lead
changes and three tie scores. Bradford put the Eagles ahead by three, 68-65,
with 51 second to play on a jump shot, but Southern Maine’s DeMillo banged in a
three-pointer on the Huskies next possession to force a second overtime.
After keeping her team’s chances afloat in the first overtime, DeMillo
picked up where she left off netting a jumper for the first points of the second
overtime period to give USM a narrow 70-68. The Huskies never relinquished
their lead in the second overtime as DeMillo scored seven of the Huskies’ 11
points in the period.
Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action on Saturday (1:00
p.m.) when it travels to UMass Dartmouth. Husson travels to Colby College on
Saturday (4:00 p.m.) for a non-conference match.
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Sunday, January 4, 2010
Southern Maine Trumps Regis 74-59
GORHAM, Maine – Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
game-high 16 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of
Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Regis College Pride 74-59 in the final game
of the USM New Year’s Classic Monday evening at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The win is the fourth straight for the Huskies who improve to 8-3 overall.
Suffering its fourth straight loss, Regis College evens out at 6-6 on the
season.
Paradis was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Senior forward
Haley Johnson(West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) joined Paradis on the all-
tournament team after posting a pair of double-doubles in two games. Johnson
had 15 points and 10 rebounds against Regis on a stellar 7-for-9 effort from the
field. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) had 15 points, eight assists
and four rebounds while freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) had 10
points, a career-high 14 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two
steals.
Regis senior Jessica Page (Quincy, Mass.) led the Pride with a game-high 17
points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.)
had 10 points and four assists and freshman guard Bianca Flores (Dorchester,
Mass./New Mission) chipped in with nine points off of the bench.
Leading by 13, 31-18, with 6:35 to play in the first half, Southern Maine
saw its lead whittled away to four points at the break as the Pride outscored
the Huskies 18-9. After a three-pointer from Paradis to take the 31-18 lead,
Regis held USM scoreless for three minutes as sophomore guard Megan Tobin
(Quincy, Mass.) scored eight straight points on back-to-back three pointers and
a jumper. Following the 8-0 run, both teams traded blows before sophomore guard
Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) netted a jumper in the paint during the
Pride’s final possession to trail 40-36 at the break.
In the second half, Regis pulled to within one of USM on its first
possession with a three-pointer from junior guard Stephanie Wozmak (Auburn,
N.H./Memorial), before the Huskies used an 11-2 run, including nine straight
points, to take a 51-41 lead with 15:38 to play. Johnson had four points in the
run for USM.
A three-pointer from Flores stymied the Huskies scoring briefly, before the
Huskies strung together a 14-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 65-
46, with 7:53 to play. Five different players scored for USM in the decisive
run.
Regis cut the lead to 15 on a pair of free throws from Crawford with 3:28
on the clock, but it was as close as the Pride would get the rest of the way.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (28-for-65) from the
floor and 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from three-point range. Regis shot 34.0
percent (18-for-53) fro the field and 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from three-point
range.
Southern Maine travels to Husson University on Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) for
non-conference game. Regis College hosts Colby-Sawyer on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
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Sunday, January 4, 2010
Huskies’ Balance Overpowers UMaine Presque Isle 72-40
GORHAM, Maine – Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury)
led a balanced scoring effort with 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 mark from the
floor as the University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled over the UMaine Presque
Isle Owls 72-40 in the second game of the USM New Year’s Classic.
All 10 Southern Maine players who entered the game scored at least one
basket in the win is as the Huskies improve to 7-3. The Owls fall to 0-7 with
the loss.
Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine), sophomore forward Courtney
Cochran (Waite, Maine) and freshman guard Meredith Reid (York, Maine) each
scored nine points for the Huskies. Cochran added a career-best 10 rebounds to
help Southern Maine to a decisive 47-28 edge on the boards, while Reid’s point
total marked the best of her career. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago,
Maine/Lake Region) and freshman guard Brooke Stevens (Wells, Maine) each tossed
in eight points. Nicholas added six steals.
Junior guard Megan Korhonen (Littleton, Maine) led all scorers with 15
points. Korhonen was 5-for-10 from the field, including a 3-for-6 mark from
three-point range. Sophomore guard Emily Moore (Lisbon, Maine) and senior
forward Kathy Kilfoil (Johnville, New Brunswick) each scored seven points.
Tied at 14 with 11:08 remaining in the first half, Southern Maine broke
away from the Owls in the final nine minutes of the half outscoring UMPI 27-8
taking a commanding 41-22 lead at the break. Reid scored all eight of her
points in the stretch run, while Stevens tossed in six.
In the second half, UMPI never got any closer than 19 points, 44-25, in the
opening minutes as the Huskies led by as many as 36 points with eight minutes to
play.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 43.8 percent (28-for-64) from the
field and 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from three-point range. UMaine Presque Isle
shot 28.6 percent (14-for-49) from the field and 28.6 percent (6-for-21) from
three-point range, committing 26 turnovers.
UMaine Presque Isle will face Plymouth State University at 4 p.m. on
Monday. The Huskies will face Regis College (Mass.) at 6 p.m. in the final game
of the tournament. Regis College is coached by former Southern Maine standout
Julie Plant ’00.
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Friday, January 1, 2010
USM New Year's Classic Rescheduled
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics
announced late this afternoon that the USM New Year's Classic women's basketball
tournament, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, has been rescheduled due to
the impending winter storm forecast for Saturday.
The tournament has been rescheduled to Sunday and Monday at the Warren Hill
Gymnasium. Plymouth State University will play Regis College in the first game
Sunday (5:00 p.m.), followed by the game between USM and the University of Maine
Presque Isle (7:00 p.m.).
On Monday, Plymouth State will play UMPI in the opening game (4:00 p.m.)
followed by USM and Regis (6:00 p.m.).
Southern Maine enters the tournament with a 6-3 overall record. Regis is
coached by former USM standout Julie Plant.
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Monday, December 14, 2009
USM’s Leighton Sweeps LEC, MWBCA and NEWBA Rookie of the Week Honors
GORHAM, Maine - University of Southern Maine Huskies freshman forward
Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) swept three Rookie of the Week awards earning the
Little East Conference (LEC), Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association
(MWBCA) and New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) honors for the
week ending Sunday, December 13, 2009. It is the second time this season that
Leighton has swept all three awards previously earning all three on November 30,
2009. Leighton has been named the LEC Rookie of the Week three times (Nov. 30,
Dec. 7, Dec. 12) and the MWBCA honors three times (Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 12)
and the NEWBA awards twice (Nov. 30, Dec. 12).
Leighton averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds and three assists per game in a
2-0 week for Southern Maine. The 5-9 forward netted 14 of her team-high 19
points in a crucial second half run as the Huskies overcame a seven point
halftime deficit to defeat Salem State 58-53 on the road. In a Little East
Conference win against Keene State, Leighton had a nine points, six rebounds,
four assists and two blocked shots. She shot 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from the
field for the week and was 6-for-8 from the free throw line.
Leighton leads Southern Maine in scoring averaging 14.3 points per game
while shooting a solid 45.4 percent (49-for-108) from the field and 81.3 percent
(26-for-32) from the free throw line. She is second on the team in rebounding
averaging 7.2 per game. She is averaging 1.7 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.2 steals
per game.
Leighton is in the top 15 of several categories in the Little East
Conference. She is fifth in scoring, second in blocked shots, ninth in
rebounding, 12th in steals, 13th in free throw percentage, 14th in assists and
15th in field goal percentage.
Southern Maine hosts UMaine Presque Isle on Saturday, January 2 (4:00) in
the second game of the USM New Year’s Classic Tournament. Plymouth State will
face Regis College (Mass.) in the first game (2:00 p.m.). Regis College is
coached by former USM standout Julie Plant ‘00. Plant played in a pair of
Final Fours for the Huskies in 1998 and 2000.
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Saturday, December 12, 2009
Huskies Topple Keene State 61-46
GORHAM, Mass. – Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) scored a
season-high 16 points to lead three-players in double figures as the University
of Southern Maine Huskies rolled over the Keene State College Owls 61-46 in a
Little East Conference women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill
Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 6-3 on the season and evens out
its Little East Conference record at 1-1. The loss drops Keene State to 5-2
overall and 1-1 in the LEC.
Paradis was 6-for-11 from the floor including a solid 4-for-6 from three-
point range to lead USM. Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 13
points and a game-high five assists and sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago,
Maine/Lake Region) tossed in 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, had two assists
and three steals. Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) and senior
forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) each scored nine points.
Johnson had a game-high eight rebounds, while Leighton grabbed six. Leighton
added four assists and two blocked shots, while Johnson had three blocked shots.
Senior forward Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) had a game-high 18 points on
5-for-15 shooting form the field. Senior guard Kristen Degou (Newburyport,
Mass.) added 11 points while sophomore guard Nicole Cullinane (Rindge,
N.H./Goffstown) chipped in with 10 points off of the bench.
Trailing by a point, 27-26, Southern Maine outscored the Owls 35-19 in the
second half. The Huskies held Keene State to just five second half field goals
(5-for-24), while shooting an outstanding 70.2 percent (12-for-17) from the
field. DeMillo and Nicholas each scored eight points in the second half, while
Leighton netted seven of her nine.
The Huskies were able to take control of the game early in the second
stanza, opening the half with an 11-0 run. Four different players scored in the
run for the Huskies, led by four points from DeMillo for a 37-27 USM lead with
13:00 on the clock.
KSC cut the Husky lead to eight points, 40-32, with 10:24 to play on a
three-pointer from Simmler, but USM outscored the Owls 14-4 over the next six
minutes to open up its largest lead of the game, 54-36, with 3:29 to play.
Johnson scored five of the Huskies 14 points in the run. Keene State was able
to cut the lead to 13 on a three from Cullinane with 46 seconds remaining but it
was too little to late. Leighton netted the Huskies final basket of the game
with 10 seconds to play for the 61-46 final.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 50.0 percent (21-for-42) from
the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range (8-for-16). The Huskies were
just 11-for-20 from the free throw line (55.0 percent). Keene State shot 29.8
percent from the field (14-for-47) and 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from three-point
range.
Southern Maine hosts UMaine Presque Isle on Saturday, January 2 (4:00) in
the second game of the USM New Year’s Classic Tournament. Plymouth State will
face Regis College (Mass.) in the first game (2:00 p.m.). Regis College is
coached by former USM standout Julie Plant ’00. Plant played in a pair of Final
Fours for the Huskies in 1998 and 2000.
Keene State faces Goucher College at Southwestern College for the Grand
Canyon Classic on
Tuesday, December 29 (tba).
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Thursday, December 10, 2009
Southern Maine Slips Past Salem State 58-53
SALEM, Mass. - Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) scored 19
points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead four players in double figures as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies overcame a sluggish first half to defeat
the Salem State College Vikings Thursday night at James Twohig Gymnasium in
Salem, Mass.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Huskies who improve to 5-3
overall. Salem State falls to 3-4 with the loss.
Trailing the Vikings 26-19 after the first half, Leighton notched 14 of her
19 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the second half as the Huskies rallied for the
win. Curran was 7-for-14 from the field to lead Southern Maine. Junior guard
Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) tossed in 13 points, four rebounds and three assists
and senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) 12 points on a 5-for-10
performance from the field. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake
Region) added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Freshman guard Madeline Park (Blue Hill, Maine/George Stevens) led the
Vikings with 19 points. Park canned five three-pointers en route to her team-
high total. Senior forward Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, Mass.) added 12
points, while freshman center Brianna Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) added seven points
and a game-high 11 points.
The Huskies outscored the Vikings 27-12 in the opening 10 minutes and 42
seconds of the second half to grab an eight point, 46-38 lead. Leighton was a
force for the Huskies in the run scoring all 14 of her second half points in the
run, capped by a three-pointer following an assist from DeMillo.
Salem State pulled to within two of the Huskies, 46-44, on a mini 6-0 run
with 6:59 to play. Jenkins scored four of the Vikings points in the run. After
a few missed attempts at both ends of the court, Nicholas gave USM some
breathing room sinking her only three-pointer with 5:07 on the clock for a 49-44
lead.
Salem State?s Wilson made one of two free throws for a 49-45 USM advantage
with 3:36 remaining before Paradis and DeMillo combined for five unanswered
points. Paradis hit a jumper while DeMillo sank the final of her three three-
pointers in games for an insurmountable 54-45 Husky lead with 2:39 to play.
After a poor 25.0 percent shooting percentage (6-for-24) in the first half,
USM shot 52.0 percent (13-for-25) in the second half to finish the game shooting
38.8 percent (19-for-49). Salem State shot 17-for-60 from the game (28.3
percent).
Southern Maine hosts Little East Conference opponent Keene State College on
Saturday (1:00 p.m.). Salem State hosts Hiram College on Tuesday December 29 at
5:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Southern Maine-Salem State Game Postponed
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Athletic Department
announced this morning that tonight's women's basketball game at Salem State
College has been postponed due to the snow storm blanketing the region.
The game has been rescheduled for tomorrow night (Thursday, December 10)
with the opening tap-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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Monday, December 7, 2009
Curran Leighton Repeats as Little East Conference Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) of the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team
has been named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week for the week ending
Sunday, December 6, 2009. This week’s honor marks the third straight week that
Leighton has earned at least one rookie of the week accolade and is the second
straight week she has earned LEC honors. Leighton is sharing this week’s award
with UMass Dartmouth freshman center Colleen Moriarty (Canton, Mass.).
Leighton was named the LEC, Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association
(MWBCA) and New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the
Week on November 30 and was named the MWBCA Rookie of the Week on November 22.
Leighton averaged 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in two games for
the Huskies. She has 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds against Western
Connecticut while turning in a 6-for-14 performance from the floor and a 2-2
mark at the free throw line. Her 14 points and 12 rebounds gave her the second
double double in her collegiate career. Against Bowdoin, Leighton had nine
points and five rebounds, an assist and four blocked shots.
Leighton is the Huskies leading scorer averaging 14.4 points and second
leading rebounder grabbing 7.4 per game. She is shooting a solid 44.8 percent
(39-for-87) from the field and 83.3 percent (20-for-24) from the free throw
line.
Southern Maine travels to Salem State College on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for
a non-conference game.
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Saturday, December 5, 2009
Western Connecticut Rolls Past Southern Maine 70-50
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Heather Lee (Seymour, Conn.) poured in a
game-high 21 points to lead three players in double-figures as the Western
Connecticut State University Colonials defeated the University of Southern Maine
Huskies 70-50 Saturday afternoon in Little East Conference women’s basketball
action.
With the win, Western Connecticut begins its LEC schedule at 1-0 and
improves to 4-2 overall. The Huskies drop their second straight game to fall to
4-3 and are 0-1 in the Little East. The win marks just the ninth win for
Western Connecticut in the 43-game history between the two schools.
Lee was 7-for-18 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc for the
game-high 21. She added six rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Karli Spera
(Waterford, Conn.) added 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals
and junior center Melissa Teel (Hamden, Conn.) had a double-double with 12
points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Teel’s 15 rebounds helped the Colonials to
a 49-34 edge on the glass.
Southern Maine freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) paced the
Huskies with 14 points, 12 rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. Leighton
notched her second career double-double and set a new career mark for rebounds
with 12. Senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) and junior guard Kaylie
DeMillo (Jay, Maine) each had 11 points.
Western Connecticut broke open a close game in the second half. Leading
by three, 34-31, at the break, the Colonials took advantage of an ice-cold start
for the Huskies in the opening 6:30 of the second half with a 15-2 run. Spera
had six of her 14 points in the run, canning two three-pointers to give the
Colonials a 49-33 lead with 13:30 to play. USM was a sub-par 1-for-8 from the
field during the Colonials run.
Southern Maine countered with a 4-0 swing to trim its deficit to 12 points,
49-37, on a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago,
Maine/Lake Region) and a jumper from Leighton with 11:10 on the clock, but it
was as close as USM would get as it struggled to put the ball through the hoop.
The Huskies were 4-for-11 from the field for the rest of the game and made just
six field goals in the second half.
Southern Maine travels to Salem State College on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for
a non-conference game. Western Connecticut hosts Vassar College on Tuesday
(7:00 p.m.).
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Leighton Earns MWBCA and NEWBA Rookie of the Week Honors
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) earned two
more honors this week garnering the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’
Association (MWBCA) and New England Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association
(NEWBA) Rookie of the Week honors for the week ending Sunday, November 29, 2009.
Both associations made their announcements on Tuesday. Leighton was named the
Little East Conference Rookie of the Week for the same week on Monday.
In an outstanding start to her collegiate career, Leighton has been named
the MWBCA Rookie of the Week twice this season and is earning the initial NEWBA
Rookie of the Week honor for this season.
Leighton earned the honors after helping USM to a 2-0 record last week,
averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per
game while shooting a solid 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from the field.
In a 71-52 win over Bates College, Leighton was 7-for-12 from the field for
a game-high 16 points, while snagging eight rebounds. She also had three
assists, two blocks and two steals in the win. Against St. Joseph’s College
(Maine), Leighton notched a career-high 20 points in a 67-50 road win. She was
6-for-11 from the floor and 8-for-11 from the free throw line with eight
rebounds, four steals, three assists and a blocked shot.
Leighton is the Huskies leading scorer averaging 14.5 points and 6.7
rebounds per game. She is shooting a solid 45.2 percent (33-for-73) from the
floor and 81.8 percent (18-for-22) from the free throw line. The 5-9 forward is
also chipping in at 2.0 assists, 1.1 blocks and 2.5 steals per game.
Southern Maine opens the Little East Conference portion of its schedule on
Saturday (1:00 p.m.) when it hosts Western Connecticut State University.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bowdoin Defeats Southern Maine 60-47
GORHAM, Maine – Senior forwards Caitlyn Hynes (Owl’s Head, Maine/Rockland) and
Leah Rubega (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free) combined to score 32 points and haul
down 21 rebounds to lead the Bowdoin College Polar Bears to a 60-47 win over the
University of Southern Maine Huskies in a battle between two nationally-ranked
women’s basketball teams Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
Ranked seventh in the latest D3hoops.com Poll, the Polar Bears improve to
4-0. The Huskies, ranked 17th, fall to 4-2 with the loss.
Hynes was 8-for-15 from the field for a game-high 20 points and had eight
rebounds for the Polar Bears. Rubega was 6-for-8 for 12 points and hauled down
a game-high 13 rebounds. Junior forward Colleen Sweeney (Danbury, Conn./Taft)
added nine points off of the bench.
Southern Maine senior guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) led the
Huskies with 12 points. Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury,
Conn./Simsbury) tossed in 10 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) added nine points and five
rebounds.
While neither team shot well, Bowdoin gained the lead from the start and
never relinquished it; however, despite trailing the entire game USM kept the
game within two possessions for a majority of the game. The Huskies trailed
Bowdoin 46-41 with 5:35 to play following an offensive rebound and a put-back by
Johnson, but the Polar Bears used a 5-0 spurt over the next minute and ten
seconds to secure the win.
Following Johnson’s lay-up, Hynes netted a three-point play scoring a lay-
up and converting the free throw in Bowdoin’s ensuing possession. A missed USM
three-pointer was quickly rebounded and sophomore guard Amy Hackett (Bangor,
Maine) tossed in a lay-up for a 53-43 with 3:32 to play.
From there, USM was unable to get any closer than 11 points for rest of the
way as the Polar Bears cruised to the win.
Bowdoin shot 38.1 percent (24-for-63) for the game and 16.7 percent (3-for-
18) from three point range. Southern Maine finished the game shooting 36.0 (18-
for-50) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-for-11) from three-point range.
Southern Maine opens the Little East Conference portion of its schedule on
Saturday (1:00 p.m.) when it hosts Western Connecticut State University.
Bowdoin travel to Colby College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.)
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Southern Maine’s Curran Leighton Named Little East Conference Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) of the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team
has been named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week for the week ending
Sunday, November 29, 2009.
Leighton helped Southern Maine to a pair of wins in a 2-0 week averaging
18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while
shooting a solid 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from the field.
In a 71-52 win over Bates College at home, Leighton was 7-for-12 from the
floor en route to a game-high 16 points. The 5-9 forward added eight rebounds,
three assists, two blocks and two steals in the victory. In a 67-50 road win at
St. Joseph’s College (Maine), Leighton tossed in a career-high 20 points and had
eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and a blocked shot, while shooting 6-
for-11 from the field and 8-for-11 from the free throw line.
Leighton leads Southern Maine in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game on
a solid 48.3 field goal percentage (29-for-60). She is averaging 7.0 rebounds,
3.0 steals, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) at home against
Bowdoin College. Both teams are currently ranked in the national polls.
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Sunday, November 29, 2009
Southern Maine Rolls Over St. Joseph’s 67-50
STANDISH, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) scored a
career-high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the nationally-ranked
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 67-50 win over the St. Joseph’s
College Monks in a non-conference women’s basketball Sunday night at the Alfond
Center in Standish, Maine.
The win is the fourth straight for the Huskies who improve to 4-1 overall.
The loss drops St. Joseph’s College evens out to 2-3.
Leighton was 6-for-11 from the field and 8-for-11 from the free throw line
to lead the Huskies. Sophomore guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region)
was the only other USM player in double figures netting a season-high 12 points.
Senior forward Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and junior guard
Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) each chipped in with eight points. Johnson had a
game-high 11 rebounds.
Senior Carolyn Freeman (Scarborough, Maine/Catherine McAuley) led the Monks
with 12 points, while senior Meghan Daigle (Grantham, N.H./Lebanon) added nine
points off of the bench.
Southern Maine shot a solid 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the field and
limited the Monks to just a 29.5 percent (13-for-44) performance from the field
while forcing the Monks into 20 turnovers. Southern Maine netted 24 of its 67
points off of turnovers in the game.
The Huskies held St. Joseph’s to just 19 first half points on a 6-for-23
(26.1 percent). USM led by as many as 21 points, 33-12, late in the half,
before heading into the halftime break with a 36-19 lead.
In the second half, the Monks trimmed the lead to 10 points with an opening
7-0 run on a three pointer from Freeman and a pair of layups from sophomore
forward Allie Parent (Camden, Maine/Camden Hills) and junior guard Casey Drake
(Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon) to trail 36-26 with 18:03 remaining. USM responded
however with an 11-1 run to regain a 20-point, 47-27 lead, with 15:14. Nicholas
scored nine of her 12 points in the run. The Huskies remained in control of the
game for the remainder of the contest.
Southern Maine hosts in-state rival Bowdoin College on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
Both teams are currently nationally ranked. Southern Maien hosts Thomas College
on Wednesday (5:30 p.m.).
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Four Players in Double Figures As Huskies Roll Past Bates 71-52
Freshmen Leighton and Stevens Combine For 31
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) and
freshmen guard Brooke Stevens (Wells, Maine) combined for 31 points as the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies used a second-half surge
to defeated the Bates College Bobcats 71-52 in a non-conference women’s
basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The win is the third straight for the Huskies who improve to 3-1 overall.
The loss drops the Bobcats overall record to 1-2. It is the second straight loss
for Bates College to a nationally ranked opponent as they fell to Brandeis
University 63-41 on Saturday.
Leighton finished the game 7-for-12 from the field for a team-high 16
points. The 5-9 forward added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two
steals. Stevens netted 15 points and grabbed six rebounds off of the bench on a
stellar 5-for-7 shooting, including a 3-for-3 mark from three-point range.
Junior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) tossed in 13 points and senior forward
Haley Johnson (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) added 10 points and a game-high
nine rebounds.
Bates freshman forward Taryn O’Connell (Georgetown, Mass.) netted a game-
high 21 points off of the bench for the Bobcats. O’Connell also grabbed a team-
best five rebounds. Senior forward Lauren Yanofsky (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) was
the only other player in double-figures for Bates scoring 12 points on a 5-for-
12 effort from the floor.
Leading by six at the half, 37-31, Southern Maine outscored Bates 23-6 in
the opening 10:00 minutes of the second half to take command of the game.
Leighton scored six of her 16 points in the pivotal run, while Stevens canned
eight of her 15, including a pair of three-pointers as the Huskies jumped out to
a 60-37 lead with 9:31 to play. O’Connell, who was 8-for-10 from the charity
stripe, sunk four consecutive free throws, trimmed the USM lead to 20, 61-41
with 8:24 to play, but the Bobcats never got any closer than 19 the rest of the
way.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 48.1 percent (25-for-52) from the
field and 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point range. Bates shot 31.1
percent (19-for-61) from the field and just 11.1 percent (2-for-18) from three-
point range. The Huskies also held a decisive 43-28 advantage in rebounds.
Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday (5:30 p.m.) when it travels to
nearby rival St. Joseph’s College for a non-conference game. Bates College
hosts Husson University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in a non-conference game.
################################################################################
Monday, November 23, 2009
Southern Maine’s Curran Leighton Named MWBCA Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) of the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team
has been named the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie
of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 22.
The 5-9 forward averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 1.7 assists
and 1.3 blocks per game for the Huskies in a 2-1 week. She shot a solid 43.2
percent (16-for-37) from the field and was perfect from the free throw line (8-
for-8).
In Southern Maine’s 64-34 win over the University of Maine at Farmington in
the championship game of the UMF Tip-Off Tournament, Leighton recorded her first
collegiate double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Leighton
also added five steals and a blocked shot. In the opening round game of the
tournament, Leighton had 14 points, three assists, three rebounds, a blocked
shot and a steal as USM defeated Curry 74-50. Leighton netted a season-best 18
points and grabbed six rebounds in USM’s season-opener against UNE.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) at home against
Bates College.
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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.).
################################################################################
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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