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            GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Courtney Cochran (Waite, Maine/Woodland) scored a career-high 21 points to lead four players in double-figures and grabbed 17 rebounds as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Western Connecticut State University Colonials, 74-53, in a Little East Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

            The win was the sixth straight for the Huskies who improved to 11-6 overall and 6-1 in the conference.  The decision avenged a 71-55 loss at the hands of the Colonials in December, and snapped a four-game losing streak against the Colonials.

            The loss dropped the Colonials' record to 14-3 overall and 6-1 in the Little East.  Southern Maine, Western Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut are tied for first place in the LEC with identical 6-1 records.

            Cochran was an outstanding 7-for-11 from the field and 7-for-8 at the free throw line for her career-high total.  Senior guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) added 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and passed out five assists, while junior guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) chipped in with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.  Freshman guard Erin McNamara continued her steady play contributing 11 points, four assists and two steals.

            Senior forward Melissa Teel (Hamden, Conn.) led the Colonials with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds despite early foul trouble.  Senior guard Karli Spera (Waterford, Conn.) added 11 points and three assists, and freshman forward Sciarra Brandt (Thomaston, Conn.) tossed in 10 points.  Senior guard Heather Lee (Seymour, Conn.) had eight points and a game-high six assists.

            After a short jumper from Brandt gave the Colonials their final lead of the game, 7-5, with 16:05 on the clock, Southern Maine ran off a 16-0 run over the next four-and-a-half minutes to grab a commanding 21-7 lead with 11:34 to play.  DeMillo scored nine of the Huskies 16 points in the run.

            A pair of free throws from junior guard Stephanie Slonski (Griswold, Conn.) pulled the Colonials to within nine 32-23 with 5:12 left, but Southern Maine closed out the half on a 13-5 run to take a solid 45-28 lead into the break.

            The Colonials opened the first two minutes of the second half with a 7-3 spurt to pull to within 13, 48-35, but the Huskies answered back with a 13-2 outburst to take a 61-37 lead with 10:27 on the clock, and never looked back.  McNamara took the lead on the Huskies' run with five points.

            Both teams are back in action on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) with another LEC game.  Southern Maine travels to the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Western Connecticut travels to Eastern Connecticut State University.