GORHAM, Maine  –  Three University of Southern Maine Huskies' athletic teams were honored by the Little East Conference as the conference office announced its 2025-2026 Team Academic Awards.  The LEC's Team Academic Awards are awarded to the team with the highest average cumulative grade point average (GPA) through the current academic year among each of the league's 24 championship sport offerings.
 
Huskies' men's golf (3.45 gpa), women's basketball (3.59 gpa) and men's basketball (3.27 gpa) earned the academic distinction from Southern Maine's 22 Little East Conference sponsored sport offerings. Both the Huskies' men's golf and women's basketball teams were conference champions during the 2025-2026 academic year, and represented the University and the Little East Conference in their respective NCAA Division III National Championship Tournaments. Southern Maine men's basketball finished third in the regular season standings and had the most wins in conference play in program history.
 
Men's golf won its second consecutive Little East Conference title with a two-round score of 671 (+103) to claim the title by seven strokes over Eastern Connecticut State University. Freshman Keenan Buteau (Scarborough, Maine), who entered the round tied for first, finished third overall with a score of 164 (+22) to win the conference's Rookie of the Year award as the top performing freshman. He also earned First Team All-Little East Conference honors by placing in the top five. Sophomores Alex Fournier (Augusta, Maine/Cony) and Alex Grant (St. Albans, Maine/Nokomis Regional) also finished in the top 10 to earn All-LEC honors. Fournier placed seventh with a 168 (+26) after shooting an 87 (+16) on day two. Grant tied for the second-best round of the day with a 79 (+8) to move into a tie for eighth. Both athletes have earned Second team All-LEC honors by finishing sixth through 10th. Five members of the Huskies' 2026 LEC Championship team earned 2025 Little East Conference All-Academic Team recognition.
 
Claiming the 2026 LEC regular season and tournament championship for the first time since 2013, Huskies' women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen and finished the 2025-2026 season with a record of 27-3 overall and 15-1 in LEC action. Senior Jaycie Christopher (Skowhegan, Maine) earned WBCA and D3hoops.com All-American honors and was selected as a first team Academic All-American. Sophomore Lucy Wiles (Glenburn, Maine/Hampden Academy) earned both New England Women's Basketball and D3hoops.com All-Region honors for the Huskies.  Eight members of the Huskies' 2025-2026 LEC Championship team earned Little East Conference All-Academic Team recognition.
 
Finishing with a 16-10 record overall and an 11-5 mark in conference action, Huskies' men's basketball earned their most wins in conference play in program history. Senior Thomas Whelan (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep) earned NABC All-District honors – the first for Southern Maine since Mike Fennessey '00 earned second team honors after the 1999-200 season.  Both Whelan and freshman Carter Galley (Owls Head, Maine/Oceanside) earned post-season honors from the Maine Men's Basketball Coaches & Writers Association (MMBCWA).  Whelan was named First Team All-State, while Galley earned a spot on the 2026 MMBCWA All-Rookie Team. Two members of the Huskies' men's basketball team were honored by the LEC with All-Academic Team recognition.