GORHAM, Maine  –   The University of Southern Maine Huskies showcased their dominance with a commanding 36-point victory over the Western Connecticut Wolves in the inaugural Wade Millet Foundation Game. The Huskies were led by freshman Dakota Shipley (Bath, Maine/Brunswick), who contributed 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore Emma Stred (South China, Maine/Erskine Academy) anchored the defense with eight rebounds, eight points, and three steals, while freshman Lucy Wiles (Glenburn, Maine/Hampden Academy) played a crucial role as a playmaker, tallying six assists along with 10 points.

Despite the loss, Malaysia Dingle put forth a strong effort for the Wolves, tying Deona Garcia with 10 points apiece. Nia Rencher led the defensive effort for WestConn with three steals, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Huskies' offensive firepower.

The Records:
WestConn (5-17, 3-10 LEC)
Southern Maine (13-9, 9-4 LEC)
 
SERIES HISTORY: This game marked the 72nd meeting between the WestConn Wolves and the University of Southern Maine Huskies. Southern Maine leads the overall series 53-19 and has won 12 of the last 15 meetings, including the last five consecutively.
 
How It Happened:

• First Quarter:
  • WestConn struck first with a three-pointer by Dingle, but Southern Maine responded with a 5-0 run within the first three minutes.
  • The Wolves fought to stay in the game with key plays from Virtue, but senior Maddy York (Nobleboro, Maine/Lincoln Academy) sparked the Huskies' offense with crucial plays.
  • Early fouls from the Wolves allowed the Huskies to extend their lead, finishing the quarter up 21-11.
• Second Quarter:
  • Southern Maine intensified its defensive pressure, highlighted by steals from sophomore Campbell Doughty (Ashland, Va./Hanover) and graduate student Liz Cote (Conway, NH/Kennett).
  • Wiles capitalized on these efforts by adding points on the board for the Huskies.
  • Virtue continued to earn free throws for the Wolves, but their offense struggled against the Huskies' tight defense.
  • The Huskies maintained control, leading 42-22 at halftime.
• Third Quarter:
  • Southern Maine caught the Wolves off guard, outscoring them 7-0 between the eight and six-minute marks.
  • Deona Garcia and Nia Rencher put in strong efforts for WestConn, with Rencher executing a key breakaway play.
  • However, the Huskies' relentless offense extended their lead to 61-33 by the end of the quarter.
• Fourth Quarter:
  • WestConn came out strong, outscoring the Huskies 7-2 between the seven and two-minute marks.
  • Southern Maine responded with a final 6-1 run in the last 90 seconds to seal the victory.
  • The Huskies closed out the game with a dominant 81-45 win. 

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies' bench contributed significantly, scoring 29 of the team's final points compared to WestConn's 13 bench points.
• Cote and York were sharpshooters from beyond the arc, making eight of the team's 11 three-pointers (four each).
• Southern Maine capitalized on turnovers, scoring 21 points off turnovers and adding 17 second-chance points.

The Huskies' strong all-around performance secured them a decisive win, further cementing their dominance in the series against WestConn.
 
Up Next:
Southern Maine remains at home for its next contest and will host nationally-ranked UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, February 15 (1:00 pm).  The Huskies are on the road for their final two regular season contests, and will look towards the Little East Conference tournament beginning Tuesday, February 25.
 
 
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