CASTINE, Maine – Despite storming back from a double-digit deficit to make it a single point game several times in the third quarter, the University of Southern Maine Huskies fell to the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners 71-64 Friday night at Margaret Chase Smith Gymnasium in the opening game of the 2021 Maine Maritime Academy Pepsi Invitational
 
The Records: 
Southern Maine (1-1)
Maine Maritime Academy (2-1)
 
Series History: Tonight's meeting is the third between Southern Maine and Maine Maritime Academy.  USM leads the series 2-1. It is the first time USM played MMA since March 3, 2006 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament – an 81-41 win for the Huskies.
 
Standout Huskies: Sophomore Franny Ramsdell (Wells, Maine), 15 points; sophomore Ashlee Aceto (South Portland, Maine) 12 points (4-for-7 field goals, 2-for-4 three point field goals), five rebounds, senior Jackie Luckhardt (Londonderry, N.H.) 8 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals.
 
Standout Mariners: Lauren Cook, 15 points; Lauren Plissey 12 points, 11 rebounds,  6 assists, 6 blocked shots.
 
How It Happened: 

• Struggling to find the bottom of the net in the first quarter USM fell behind 21-11, shooting just 3-for-17 from the field.  The Huskies rallied in the second to make it a 35-28 deficit at the halftime break. 
• Luckhardt and MMA's Cook exchanged baskets to open the third as the Mariners led 38-38 early, but the Huskies rattled off a 9-3 run to make it a two-point, 41-39, game with 7:52 to play.  Luckhardt ignited the Huskies hitting a three while getting fouled for the rare four-point play. 
• MMA stayed ahead of the Huskies but did not lead by more than two possessions.  Ramsdell made it a one-point contest again, 48-47, sinking a pair of free throws at the 1:49 mark, but Plissey connected on a layup for the Mariners for the final bucket of the quarter and a 50-47 lead heading into the fourth.
• MMA continued to score in the fourth rattling off a 7-0 run to take control 57-47 with 6:44 to play.  The Huskies responded with back-to-back threes from Ramsdell and Aceto to make it a two-possession game 57-53 with 4:57 to go but the Mariners kept the Huskies at a distance to close out the game making 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch for the win.

 
Inside the Stats: 

• Led by Ramsdell's 15 points, the Huskies scored 27 points off of the bench.
• Aceto's 12 ponts are a career and season best for the first-year USM player.

 
Up Next: 
Southern Maine remains in Castine and will face Springfield College on Saturday (3:00 pm). 
 
 Southern Maine Athletics has gone to fully digital game programs, please click this link to access the game programs to future Husky home events!
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