Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior guard Erin McNamara and sophomore forward Megan Pelletier each finished with 19 points as second-seeded University of Southern Maine took its first lead of the game with eight minutes left, and never relinquished it, in eliminating third-seeded Eastern Connecticut, 58-49, in the semifinals of the 2014 Little East Conference women's basketball tournament Friday night at The Murray Center on the campus of Rhode Island College.
At right: Julia DePoi
By defeating Eastern (18-9) for the second time in six days after losing the first meeting by 11 points Jan. 18 at Geissler Gym, defending champion Southern Maine (20-7) advances to the Little East Conference Tournament title game for the 26th time in 28 years, looking for its 21st title.
The Huskies will battle top-seeded Rhode Island College in the title game Saturday at The Murray Center. The Anchorwomen, who eliminated No. 4 Western Connecticut, 56-46, downed Southern Maine to win its only title in its only other appearance in the final two years ago.
Southern Maine was 25-of-31 from the foul line against Eastern, while Eastern shot less than 50 percent from the stripe (11-of-23) and faltered from the floor with a 29.1 shooting percentage.
Pelletier went 9-for-10 from the free throw line and added a team-high nine rebounds, while McNamara scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half and went a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. McNamara also dished out a team-high three assists and swiped a pair of steals as well. Junior forward Rebecca Knight tallied seven points and six boards for the Huskies, while junior forward Taylor Flood chipped in with four points and five rebounds.
Eastern t was led by freshman guard Jordyn Nappi (Southington), who finished with a team-high 16 points and dished out two assists. Freshman guard Julia DePoi (Brookfield) totaled 16 points, including 11 in the first half, to go along with six boards, while sophomore forward Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, MA) registered ten points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
DePoi opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers, and the Warriors went on to extend their lead to eight, 16-8, following a three-pointer from Nappi midway through the half.
Early in the second half, Eastern Connecticut was able to hold onto a slight lead until the 14:53 mark, when USM freshman forward Jordan Knowlton's layup forced a 32-32 tie. However, Nappi answered right back with a basket on the other end, while freshman center Lexis Foster (Groton) later followed with a bucket at the 12:05 mark to put the Warriors up, 36-32.
Trailing by four, McNamara helped the Huskies respond with a three-pointer to pull Southern Maine within one, 36-35, with 11:54 remaining. McNamara's trifecta spearheaded a 26-13 scoring run for USM to close out the game, as the Huskies pulled away behind an outstanding defensive effort that limited the Warriors to just four field goals over the final 12 minutes of action. During that stretch, it was Pelletier's two free throws with 7:52 on the clock that gave the Huskies their first lead of the game, one they wouldn't relinquish.
Eastern had entered play a winner in six of its previous eight games (one of the losses to Southern Maine), including a 67-53 triumph over sixth-seeded Keene State in Tuesday's first-round game at Geissler Gym. The Warriors had returned to the LEC semifinals this year after a two-year absence.
Rhode Island College Sports Information contributed to this game account.
