GORHAM, Maine - Closing out the Little East Conference regular-season with a 69-53 win over the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans, the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's basketball team finished its 2024 LEC schedule with a 10-6 record, and earned the third seed for the upcoming Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. As the third seed, the Huskies earn home court advantage for its quarterfinal match.
Southern Maine (12-13 overall, 10-6 Little East) is 7-5 at home this season, and 5-3 at Hill Gymnasium against LEC opponents. As the third seed, the Huskies will host sixth-seed Plymouth State University Panthers on Tuesday, February 20 (5:30 pm). The Huskies defeated the Panthers twice this season for the 2023-2024 sweep, earning a 53-43 win on the road on January 17, and more recently defeating Plymouth State 59-45 at home on February 14.
The rest of the field includes defending Little East Conference Champion, and 2024 LEC Regular Season Champion Rhode Island College. Undefeated this season (25-0, 16-0 LEC), RIC is ranked third nationally. No. 22 in the nation, UMass Dartmouth is the second seed (22-3, 14-2 LEC). Both the first and second seed in the LEC tournament receive a quarterfinal bye. If the Huskies advance with a win on Tuesday, they will head to UMass Dartmouth on Thursday, February 22 (5:30 pm) for a semifinal match up with the Corsairs.
2023 Little East Conference Tournament Championship Field
- Rhode Island College 25-0 (16-0 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth 22-3 (14-2 LEC)
- Southern Maine 12-13 (10-6 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut 10-15 (8-8 LEC)
- Keene State 11-13 (7-9 LEC)
- Plymouth State 11-13 (7-9 LEC)
2024 Little East Conference Championship Quarterfinal
Who: No. 3 Southern Maine vs. No. 6 Plymouth Stqte
When: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (5:30 PM)
Where: University of Southern Maine, Gorham, Maine – Hill Gymnasium
What: 2024 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament (Quarterfinal
Southern Maine (12-13, 10-6 LEC)
Championships: 20 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013)
LEC Tournament Record: 64-15 (.829), 34 appearances
Finals Appearances: 26
Finals Record: 20-6
Last Finals Appearance: 2014
Players to Watch: Tamrah Gould, Sr., Guard, 10.6 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 spg, 32.3 3FG%;
Liz Cote, Sr., Guard, 10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 38.3 3FG% (Leads Little East with 64 3FGs);
Vanessa Vaughan, So., Forward, 8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 spg;
Amy Fleming, Sr., Guard, 7.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg.
No. 6 Plymouth State (11-13, 7-9 LEC)
Championships: 0
LEC Tournament Record: 12-33 33
Finals Appearances: 3
Finals Record: 0-3
Last Finals Appearance: 2000
Players to Watch: Bri Wilcox, 15.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.2 spg, 1.5 apg; Sophie George, 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 apg; Lea Crompton, 8.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.0 spg.
-cac-
