GORHAM, Maine     –  Senior Liz Cote (Conway, N.H./Kennett) scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, and senior Amy Fleming (Berwick, Maine/Noble) scored all 11 of her points in the second half to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 59-45 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers Wednesday night at Hill Gymnasium.
 
Bri Wilcox led the Panthers with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.  Lea Crompton had eight points, three rebounds and two assists. 
 
The Records:
Plymouth State (10-13, 6-9 Little East)
Southern Maine (11-13, 9-6 Little East)
 
Today's game marked the 100^th meeting between the Plymouth State University Panthers and the University of Southern Maine Huskies.  Southern Maine leads the overall series 92-8 and has won the last 12 over the Panthers, including a 53-43 road win on January 17, 2024. Senior Tamrah Gould (Manchester, N.H.) had 21 points in the Huskies' January win.
 
How It Happened:

• Led by eight first quarter points from sophomore Vanessa Vaughan (Hantsport, Nova Scotia), the Huskies led 16-9.  Vaughan was 2-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line in six minutes off of the bench.
• Gould knocked down a three for the first points of the second quarter giving USM a 19-9 advantage.  PSU made a 6-2 run on back-to-back running jumpers from Crompton, and a layup from Sabrina Vlahovic to trail by two possession, 21-15, with 5:30 until the halftime break.  Husky senior Megan King (Derry, N.H.) made it 23-15 on next possession but it was the last score of the half for USM as the Panthers closed on a 5-0 run to trail 23-20 at intermission.
• PSU's run extended into the third quarter. Crompton had the Panther's within one with another jumper at 9:08, but was quickly answered on the other end by a layup from Gould for a 25-22 USM lead with 8:50 to play. 
• After turnovers from both the Huskies and Panthers, PSU tied the game up at 25 following a three from Alli Ingalls at 7:58 before USM scored five unanswered on back-to-back buckets from Cote – a three and a jumper – to create separation.
• A layup from Wilcox at 2:57 had the Panthers back within a possession, 32-29, but USM headed into the fourth quarter up 40-32.  Outscoring Plymouth State 8-3 in the final three minutes, Fleming scored the Huskies' final five points of the third on a three and a layup.
• The Huskies opened the fourth on a 7-2 run highlighted by a three from junior Luna Love (Zwolle, Netherlands) at 8:29 for a 47-34 lead.  A three from Wilcox brought the Panthers to within 10, 47-37 with 6:20 remaining, but Cote struck for back-to-back threes to open up a 16-point margin for the Huskies, 53-37, with 5:30 to go. From there, Plymouth State never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way for the 59-45 final.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Southern Maine won the turnover battle. Plymouth State turned the ball over 24 times, while Southern Maine had just 14 miscues.  Both teams scored 16 points off of turnovers. 
• Plymouth State had a 42-33 lead in rebounds, including a 13-11 margin in offensive boards.  However, USM outscored the Panthers 9-0 in second chance buckets.
• After shooting 8-for-30 in the first half, Southern Maine was 14-for-30 in the second half.  USM outscored the Panthers 36-25 in the second half.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine closes out its regular season on Saturday, February 17 (1:00 pm) against Vermont State University Castleton. The Huskies will then prep for the 2024 Little East Conference Tournament.  The Huskies can finish as high as the three seed, but will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, February 20. Times and seedings to be announced later this weekend.
 
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