USM finishes second

GORHAM – Alia Fischer scored 28 points before fouling out as Washington University survived a late scare Saturday night to beat Southern Maine 77-69 for the NCAA Division III national championship.

Washington (28-2), of St. Louis, led by as many as 14 points before Southern Maine rallied to within three after a shot by Tracy LibSouthern Maine rallied to within three after a shot by Tracy Libby bounced around the rim and went into the basket with 2:01 left.

The Bears made five of six free throws down the stretch to ensure their first women’s basketball championship.

Washington led by as many as eight points in the first half but was unable to maintain the momentum until Fischer sparked a 13-2 run in the second half that put the Bears ahead 51-41 at 14:30.

Erica Stagen hit all three free throws after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt and Amy Schweizer followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears took a 14-point lead 1:33 later.

Fischer fouled out with 3:35 left and Stagen fouled out with 2:14 to go as the Huskies (28-3) came from behind with a 11-2 run.

Libby, who led Southern Maine with 22 points, also got into foul trouble and left with 23 seconds remaining.

Bears 77, Huskies 69

Washington U. (28-2) Southern Maine (29-3)

Name G AG F AF TP Name G AG F AF TP

Schweizer 5 8 2 3 14 Plant 3 9 5 7 13

Stagen 3 6 3 3 11 King 3 11 1 1 8

Kohnen 5 10 1 2 11 Ware 4 7 0 1 8

Nolan 1 3 0 2 2 Libby 9 15 4 5 22

Fischer 10 19 8 8 28 Brown 6 11 3 5 15

Harold 0 2 0 0 0 Demo 1 4 0 0 2

Rodgers 2 5 4 7 8 DeGraw 0 1 0 0 0

Tucker 0 1 1 2 1 O’Connor 0 1 1 2 1

Brown 1 1 0 0 2 Elderkin 0 0 0 0 0

Ruecher 0 1 0 0 0

Totals 27 56 19 27 77 Totals 26 59 14 21 69

Washington University 32 77

Southern Maine 28 69

3-pt. goals: Washington (4-8): Schweizer 2-4, Stagen 2-3, Ruecher 0-1; USM (3-12): Plant 2-5, King 1-6, Brown 0-1

Attendance: 1,950