DENVER – University of Maine star Cindy Blodgett scored a game-high 22 points and hit three clutch free throws in the final seconds as the East (2-0) defeated the North (1-1) 63-60 in the final second-round game of women’s basketball at the U.S. Olympic Festival.

The victory earned the East team a berth in Saturday’s gold-medal game.

The East defeated the West 75-56 on Wednesday night when Blodgett, who has recently returned from Australia, scored eight points.

Blodgett handled the ball to run out most of the game’s final minute on Thursday.

“I’m a point guard, so I’m comfortable with that situation,” Blodgett said. “I decided that if there was going to be a turnover, I was going to be the one to make it.”

The East took a 60-49 lead thanks to a 19-5 run that covered almost 10 minutes of the second half. DeMya Walker (Mt. Holly, N.J.) tallied six and Blodgett five during the decisive spurt. The North clawed its way back into the game by forcing turnovers with a full-court press.

The game turned into a foul shooting contest over the final two minutes, as only two field goals were scored during the final 2:33. Two foul shots by Tangela Smith (Chicago, Ill.) at the 1:05 mark cut the East’s deficit to 60-58, but Blodgett hit three of four from the stripe, the last coming with 7.5 seconds to play.

Nadine Domond’s (Bridgeport, Conn.) desperation 3-point shot from the corner bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Neither team shot well in the first half as the East hit 35 percent and the North connected on only 29 percent. Blodgett dropped in 12 during the half, but her team was fortunate to trail by only 27-25 at intermission because the North struggled from the free throw line, hitting only 6 of 15.

To go with her 22 points on 6-for-15 shooting, Blodgett grabbed six rebounds and had five steals. Chamique Holdsclaw (Astoria, N.Y.) had 11 points before fouling out in the final two minutes.

Jayme Olson (Bettendorf, Iowa) paced the North with 13 points and three steals, while Smith contributed 11 points and five rebounds.

The East will take on the South in Friday’s opening game of Session 5 at 2 p.m. (EDT). The North meets the West in the 7:30 p.m. game.

On Wednesday, the guard from Maine connected on three of 11 shots from the floor and on two of four tries from the line. She also made one assist.

Blodgett and Maine teammate Stacey Porrini ranked first and third in scoring on the People-to-People Sports All-Stars who captured the silver medal during the Great Australian Shootout, according to a UMaine spokesman.

The All-Stars were 5-2, losing both of their games to the gold medal winners, Eltham Basketball Club. Two of Eltham’s top three players will play Division I basketball next year at Louisiana State and Southern Methodist.

Blodgett averaged 15.1 points to lead the All-Stars. Porrini added 10.6 points per game. They each scored 16 points during an 81-63 victory over the Kllsyth Basketball Club to enter the medal round.

Blodgett scored 17 and Porrini 10 to reach the championship game in which Blodgett netted 17 more points. Porrini netted nine.