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            GORHAM, Maine -- Freshman guard Lauren Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) and junior forward Courtney Cochran (Waite, Maine/Woodland) combined for 24 points as the University of Southern Maine Huskies used a balanced attack to defeat the University of Maine Farmington Beavers, 88-51, in the second game of the 2010 USM Tip-Off Classic Friday night at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

            With the win, the Huskies evened their record at 1-1.  Playing their season opener, the Beavers fall to 0-1.  In the first game of the evening, Salve Regina University defeated Husson University 67-57.

            Rousseau was 5-for-10 from the field, while Cochran was 5-for-9 as USM finished the game shooting a solid 51.5 percent (35 of 68) from the floor.  Thirteen players scored at least two points for the Huskies, and eight players had at least five points.  Senior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) and freshman guard Meaghan Craffey (Casco, Maine/Lake Region) each scored nine points, while sophomore guard Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Maine) added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.  DeMillo had five assists and two steals.  Junior guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) put together a solid line with five points, five assists and five steals in just 16 minutes of action.

            Senior guard Ashley Busque (Belgrade, Maine) and sophomore forward Kenni Norton (Strong, Maine) each had 11 points to lead UMF.  Senior forward Jillian Ross (Belfast, Maine) added eight points. 

            Ahead by six, 28-22, with 6:18 to play in the first half, Southern Maine outscored UMF 14-6 to close out the half and take a commanding 42-28 lead into the break.  The Huskies received scoring contributions from six different players in the run.

            In the second half, Southern Maine quickly expanded its lead to 28 points, 60-32, in the opening five minutes with an 18-4 run.  The Huskies again relied on a balanced offense getting contribution from seven different players, including consecutive three-pointers from Rousseau, DeMillo and junior guard Kim Rivet (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region).

            UMF pulled to within 22 points, 60-38, following a pair of free throws from Norton with 12:47 to play, but USM's defense held the Beavers scoreless for a five-minute stretch while scoring 15 points to pull ahead 77-39 with six minutes to play.  From there, the Huskies led by as many as 40 points and cruised to the victory. 

            UMaine Farmington will face Salve Regina on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) in the third game of the tournament. Southern Maine will play Husson (3:00 p.m.) in the final game.

            At halftime of the USM-Husson game, the USM women's basketball program will be honored for its NCAA Division III record of 30 consecutive seasons with 20-or-more wins.  Former players, coaches and staff have been invited back to Hill Gymnasium to be recognized.

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