BRUNSWICK, Maine – Rhe Nae Leach scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as the Whittier College Poets outscored the University of Southern Maine Huskies 28-14 in the second half to roll to a 53-34 win in a a non-conference women's basketball match-up Friday night in the second game of the 2023 Coastal Classic Women's Basketball Tournament hosted by Bowdoin College at Morrell Gymnasium.
The Records:
Southern Maine (1-2)
Whittier College (2-1)
Today's game marked the first meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the Whittier College Poets. Located in Whittier, California, the Poets are a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)
How It Happened:
- Senior Tamrah Gould (Manchester, N.H.) scored eight points in the first quarter to help Southern Maine to a 14-11 lead after the opening 10 minutes of action. Gould was 3-for-4 from the field to start the Huskies off strong.
- Whittier led 25-20 at the halftime break, surging ahead with a 14-6 advantage in the second quarter. Lalli Gurrola was 2-for-2 from three for six points to pace the Poets in the frame.
- Whittier's advantage grew in the third, extending its lead to 42-22 outscoring USM 17-2 in the third. Lainie James tossed in seven points in the third for the Poets, who shot 6-for-14 (42.9 percent). Conversely, the Huskies went 0-for-12 from the field in the third. Freshman Emma Stred (China, Maine/Erskine Academy) made a pair of free throws to put USM on the board in the quarter.
- Down by 20, USM outscored the Poets 12-11 in the fourth but could not overcome its third-quarter deficit.
Inside The Stats:
- Neither team shot well in the game. Whittier was 20-for-52 (38.5 percent) from the field, but went 6-for-15 from three (40.0 percent0 and 7-for-9 from the free thrown line. Southern Maine was 10-for-51 (19.6 percent), and went 3-for-36 (8.3 percent) from three.
- Gould led USM with eight points and two steals. Senior Liz Cote (Conway, N.H./Kennett) added six points, four rebounds.
Up Next:
The Huskies remain on the road for the second day of the Coastal Classic Women's Basketball Tournament at Bowdoin College. USM faces Bridgewater State University on Saturday, November 18 (6:30 pm). Southern Maine then travels to Bates College on Tuesday, November 21 (5:30 pm) for another non-conference matchup.
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