Box Score

BANGOR, ME—Third seeded Castleton State College Women’s Basketball Team (17-11/11-5NAC) rode the three point shooting of Mary Nienow (#11) to a 63-57 NAC Championship victory over first seed Husson University. The Spartan’s win assures them participation in the NCAA DIII National Tournament. Seeding will be announced Monday March 2, 2009

Nine different Castleton players scored but it was Nienow’s 8 for 10 three point shooting that made the difference. She ended the day with 27 points and 4 rebounds to lead all scoring. Jess Banks (#24) added 8 points but more importantly as point guard handled the Husson press with poise. Nienow was selected as Tournament MVP and Banks was named to the All Tournament Team.

The Husson Eagles were led in scoring and rebounds by All Tournament selection Bree Hanscom (#15). She finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Shelby Bradford (#13) tallied 13 points and Bethany Sevey (#22) had 12. Bradford was also named to the All Tournament Team.

Brittany Holden (Green Mountain #14) and Caitlyn Laflin (U.M. Farmington #21) were also named to the NAC All Tournament Team.

2009 All-Tournament Team
MVP: Mary Nienow, Castleton
Jessica Banks, Castleton
Shelby Bradford, Husson
Bree Hanscom, Husson
Brittany Holden, Green Mountain
Caitlyn Laflin, Maine-Farmington

Castleton Women Top Farmington in Thrilling Overtime Victory

Box Score

BANGOR, ME—Third seeded Castleton State College Women’s Basketball Team came from six down in overtime to best second seeded University of Maine Farmington to a 61-59 NAC semifinal win at Newman Gymnasium on the Husson University campus.

Castleton used a balanced attack and tenacious defense to keep the game close. The first half ended with the Spartans trailing the Beavers 25-28. Leeanne Ketchen (#14 and Jess Banks (#24) led the way for Castleton with each scoring 12. Melissa Verrill (#22) was big under the basket with 10 rebounds.

The Farmington Beavers were led by #21 Caitlin Laflin who tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Amanda Byrne (#12) had 14 and Erin Porter (#10) added 12.

The Castleton Spartans (16-11/ 10-5 NAC) advance to the finals to take on #1 Husson University who defeated Green Mountain College earlier in the evening in the other semifinal match-up. The Final will be played at Husson Newman Gymnasium at 2:00 pm on Saturday February 28, 2009.

Husson Depth Leads to NAC Semifinal Victory, 79-60 over Green Mountain

Box Score

BANGOR, ME—Top seeded Husson University Women’s Basketball Team used their depth to pull way from #4 Green Mountain Eagles to a 79-60 NAC semifinal win at Newman Gym on the Husson campus.

Husson used all seventeen players on the team to wear down the Green Mountain Eagles who played only seven. Husson was led by the NAC Player of the Year Shelby Bradford with 15 points and 10 rebounds and NAC Rookie of the Year Bree Hanscom with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Noelle Lincoln went 4 for 6 from the three point line to add 12 points and Bethany Sevey tallied 13. Eleven different Husson players scored.

Green Mountain College was led by Brittany Holden who scored 15 points while playing all 40 minutes. Molly Harper added 13 while Natalie Clark and Christina Chamberlain each had 11.
The Husson Eagles (18-7/ 14-1 NAC) advance to the finals to take on #3 Castleton State College who defeated University of Maine Farmington in the other semifinal match-up. The Final will be played at Husson Newman Gymnasium at 2:00pm on Saturday February 28, 2009

Castleton uses balanced attack to earn seventh-straight trip to NAC Semifinal

Box Score

Castleton, VT - The third-seeded Castleton State College Spartans placed 11 players in the scorebook and received a huge performance from its bench in earning a 75-49 North Atlantic Conference Women's basketball Quarterfinal win over sixth-seeded Johnson State College at Glenbrook Gymnasium Tuesday evening.

With the score knotted at 8-8 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the first half, the Castleton reserves fueled a 21-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 29-10 lead that the Badgers would not be able to overcome. Johnson State got themselves back to within 13 at 33-20, using a 10-4 run over the next five minutes, capped by a Staci Cutting three-pointer and a pair of Jenna Lewis free throws. But, in much the same way they did all night, the Spartans answered with a 7-3 run, ending with a Katie Hoxsie three-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded to take a 40-23 lead into intermission.

Castleton’s lead bulged to as many as 36 at 72-36 on a Christine Jaques three-pointer with 5:51 remaining, before the Spartans settled in for the 26-point win.

The Castleton bench outscored their guests 45-12, including a team-high 12 from reserve Kristie Dunchus. Katie Hoxsie added 11 off the bench, while Jaques chipped in eight and Erinn O’Rourke seven.

Cutting led the Badgers with 13 points, while Claudia Martineau added 11. Angela Locke scored 12 off the bench as Johnson State’s season comes to a close at 10-16 overall.

Castleton improves to 15-10 overall and will travel to Husson University, top-seed in the tournament and host of the Semifinal and Championship rounds. The Spartans will take on second seeded University of Maine-Farmington on Friday at 8:00 pm. The teams split two previous meetings this season, with each team earning a win on their respective home courts. The winner of Castleton-Farmington contest will take on the winner of top-seed Husson and fourth-seeded Green Mountain, which advanced to the semifinal round by way of a 54-44 win over fifth seeded Maine Maritime.

Late Run Propels Green Mountain Eagles Over Maine Maritime

Box Score

A run in the late stages of the game allowed the #4 seed Eagles to advance to the NAC semifinals with a win over the visiting Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy.

Senior Christina Chamberlin (Woodstock, VT) dropped a team-leading 13 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and forced 4 turnovers en route to victory. Emma Buckley (Lakeville, CT) pitched in with 12 points, 8 boards, and 7 blocks. Brittany Holden (Schenectady, NY) and Molly Hopper (Gouvernor, NY) added 12 and 11 points resepctivley.

Jessica Stahl (Bowdion, ME) lead the way for the Mariners netting a game-high 14 points on 6-13 shooting. Samantha Goda (Eliot, ME) also reached double-digit points with 13. Tatum Welch (Newport, ME) collected a game-high 14 boards while adding 8 points.

The Eagles will face #1 seed Husson University on Saturday evening. Tip-off is set for 6 pm.

February 22, 2009

Husson Enters NAC Women’s Basketball Championship as Top Seed

Husson University has claimed the top seed in the upcoming North Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament. Rallying from down 11 at half in the last game of the regular season, Husson (17-7 overall, 13-1 NAC) won their last 11 games to finish atop the NAC standings and earn the right to host the NAC semifinals and finals beginning next weekend, Friday, February 27. The top six teams qualify for the NAC Championship.

The University of Maine at Farmington (15-10 overall, 12-2 NAC) finished regular season play as the second seed. The Beavers, who were the only conference team to defeat the top seeded Eagles, earned a first round bye and will play a semifinal game at Husson next Friday.

Four teams tied for fourth place in the NAC standings following regular season play. Using predetermined tiebreakers, Green Mountain (11-13 overall, 5-9 NAC) will be the fourth seed and host fifth seed Maine Maritime (9-16 overall, 5-9 NAC) in a first round contest on Tuesday, February 24. Sixth seed Johnson State (10-15 overall, 5-9 NAC) will travel to third seed Castleton (14-11 overall, 9-5 NAC) for a first round contest Tuesday.

Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical conference winning percentages. First round games will be played at the higher seed on Tuesday, February 24. As the top seed, Husson will host both semifinal contests on Friday, February 27 at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. and the championship on Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m. for the NAC title. Game times are subject to change. The NAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.