GORHAM, Maine – Earning the 2026 Little East Conference Regular Season Championship, the No. 25-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies earned the top seed in the Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. The Huskies' finished their 2025-2026 regular season with an outstanding 23-2 overall record and a 15-1 mark in the Little East Conference, claiming the program's 22
nd regular season title.
With a quarterfinal-round bye, Southern Maine will host the winner of the No.4 UMass Boston Beacons vs. No. 5 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs contest held on Thursday, February 26 (6:00 pm). The Huskies are 2-0 against both the Beacons and Corsairs during the regular season. USM defeated UMB 64-47 in Boston on December 3, and 74-51 in Gorham on January 28. Southern Maine defeated UMD 81-54 in Gorham on January 14, and 75-60 in North Dartmouth on February 14. The Beacons and Corsairs on 1-1 against each other this season with each team earning a win on the road. The Huskies' semifinal game will be played on Friday, February 27 (6:00 pm)
Southern Maine is averaging 74.8 points per game this season, and is shooting 43.6 percent (673-1545) from the field and 34.0 percent (224-658) from three-point range. Over its 25-game regular season schedule, Southern Maine has limited its opponents to 53.4 points per game for a plus-21.4 point scoring margin. The Huskies bring down 39.6 rebounds per game, and pass off 15.4 assists per game. Southern Maine has a Little East Conference leading 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Leading the way for the Huskies is senior guard
Jaycie Christopher (Skowhegan, Maine). Christopher is averaging 19.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 59 percent from the field. Sophomore guard
Lucy Wiles, the 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year, is right behind Christopher averaging 17.1 points per game, adding 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore
Dakota Shipley (Bath, Maine/Brunswick) has had a standout second season setting career-highs in all statistical categories averaging 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Senior guard
Avah Ingalls (Hampstead, NH) has consistently filled the stats sheet and is averaging 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals per game, while graduate student
Liz Cote (Conway, NH/Kennett) gives USM a long-range threat averaging 7.7 points per game while knocking down 55 three-pointers.
2026 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Field
- Southern Maine 22-3, 15-1 Little East
- Rhode Island College 20-5, 14-2 Little East
- Keene State 17-8, 11-5 Little East
- UMass Boston 15-11, 8-8 Little East
- UMass Dartmouth 10-15, 7-9 Little East
- Eastern Connecticut 9-16, 6-10 Little East
2026 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship
Who: No. 4 UMass Boston or No. 5 UMass Dartmouth at No. 1 Southern Maine
When: Friday, February 27 – 6:00 pm
Where: University of Southern Maine – Costello Sports Complex – Hill Gym
What: Semifinal round.
No. 1 Southern Maine (23-2, 15-1 Little East)
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: 67-17 (.802)
Finals Appearances: 27
Finals Record: 20-7
Last Appearance: 2025
Players to Watch: Jaycie Christopher, Sr. G, 19.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 59.0 FG% (170-288); 49.5 3FG% (53-107); 3.5 apg; 1.1 spg;
Lucy Wiles, So, G, 17.1 ppg; 2.6 rpg; 45.6 FG% (161-353); 44.4 3FG% (52-117), 3.0 apg, 1.9 spg;
Dakota Shipley, So., F, 11.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg; 42.6 FG% (106-249); 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.6 bpk;
Avah Ingalls, Sr., G, 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 48.5 FG% (66-for-136) 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.8 bpg;
Liz Cote, Gr. G, 7.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 30.6 3FG% (55-180), 1.0 apg
No. 4 UMass Boston (15-11, 8-8 Little East)
Championships: 1 (2018)
LEC Tournament Record: 8-32
Finals Appearances: 3
Finals Record: 1-2
Last Appearance: 2018
Players to Watch: Madison Haggett, 11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 35.7 3FG% (40-112); 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg; Ashleigh Lagor, 10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 50.7 (106-209) FG%, 1.4 apg, 1.8 spg; Sabanna Berrios, 10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 41.0 FG% (91-222), 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg; Hialeah Turner-Foster, 10.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 45.5 FG% (98-188), 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg; Jordis Tautalatasi, 9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 45.5 FG% (101-222), 3.4 apg, 2.3 spg
No. 5 UMass Dartmouth (10-15, 7-9 Little East)
Championships: 1 (2025)
LEC Tournament Record: 19-36
Finals Appearances: 6
Finals Record: 1-5
Last Appearance: 2025
Players to Watch: Yasmine Santos, 16.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 43.9 FG% (126-287), 0.9 apg, 1.0 spg; Melanie DeMeo, 14.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 37.9 3FG% (39-103), 2.4 apg, 0.9 spg; Kaila Pruitt, 7.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 35.2 3FG% (44-125); Cristina Negron 6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 31.6 3FG% (42-133); Kasey Oliver, 5.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg.
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