Physical Bears tame Huskies at own game

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BOSTON, Mass. – Northeastern University has thrived in the colorful confines of Cabot Gym this season, averaging 73.8 points per game.

With UMaine in town Wednesday night, the offense didn’t come nearly as easily.

The Black Bears put together a display of stifling defense, holding the Huskies 29 points below their home average on their way to a 60-45 America East women’s basketball victory.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s UMaine squad (18-4) improved its winning streak to 14 games while Northeastern (8-16) suffered its third straight loss, falling to 6-7 in conference play.

The Bears prevailed despite an especially physical style of game during which most of the officials’ calls went the Huskies’ way.

“We knew it was going to be extremely physical, so I told our kids to be mentally tough, fight through the physicality,” Versyp said. “I thought our kids handled it well.”

One of the players who seemed to enjoy the constant banging was sophomore forward Monica Peterson, who scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in 27 minutes.

“I think we do pretty well against it,” Peterson said. “It kinds of gets us pumped. Everybody’s out to get us, pushing us around, throwing us around, but we’re still scoring.”

Heather Ernest of Temple led the charge for UMaine with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Julie Veilleux of Augusta tossed in 13 points as the Bears shot 45 percent. Abby Schrader added eight points, while Kim Corbitt (4 assists) and Melissa Heon (4 steals) led the backcourt crew.

Northeastern was unable to establish a consistent scoring threat, but Francesca Vanin led the way with eight points. The Bears dominated the rebounding 42-25 while limiting the Huskies to 31 percent shooting.

“In the past couple games we haven’t been really as intense, so it was nice for us to come out and play defense the way we know we can play defense,” Ernest said.

The Bears exhibited cohesive and intense man-to-man defense during the first half. The effort enabled UMaine to build an 18-point lead before settling for a 31-20 halftime edge.

The Huskies struggled to 28 percent floor shooting, but hit three 3-pointers and made seven of eight free throws to stay well within striking distance.

“Our defense sets the tone,” Versyp said. “They only had four points the first 12 minutes and that’s what we need to do, especially when you’re on the road.”

Trailing by 11, Northeastern scored the first basket of the second half, but the Bears scored 12 of the next 16 points by pounding the ball inside and extended the edge to 43-26 with 12:26 left.

Ernest scored three close-range baskets and Schrader had a couple during that stretch.

“We needed to attack, we needed to go inside,” Versyp said. “We wanted to get to the foul line as much as we could, although they’re the ones that got there more than us.”

The physical battle continued at both ends and despite not getting many calls to go its way, UMaine persevered. A 6-1 scoring run enabled the Bears to make it 49-27 with 8:51 to play.

In the first half, UMaine shot a solid 48 percent from the field, led by Veilleux’s 11 points, and outrebouded Northeastern 18-12. The Bears achieved their first-half success while getting only seven minutes out of Ernest, who picked up two fouls in the first two minutes, 40 seconds.

Peterson helped pick up the slack inside, providing six poitns and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

The visitors piled up a 22-4 advantage on the strength of a 14-0 scoring surge that lasted 41/2 minutes. Corbitt sparked the run with a driving scoop shot, then Peterson scored from the lane.

Veilleux scored seven points during the surge, hitting an 18-footer, a 3-pointer and a 16-footer from the baseline. Missy Traversi had two foul shots and Corbitt made one during the pivotal spurt.

BLACK BEARS 60, HUSKIES 45

Maine (18-4) Northeastern (8-16)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Heon 2 8 0 0 4 Williams 0 5 4

Ernest 8 15 1 2 17 Kowalski 2 6

Jay 0 1 0 0 0 Vanin 4 12 0 8

Corbitt 2 7 1 2 5 Jefferson 3 8

Veilleux 6 9 0 0 13 Decerbo 2 3 9

Traversi 0 3 2 2 2 Demor 1 3 2

Hickman 0 1 0 0 0 Zwarich 1 5 6

Geraghty 0 2 1 2 1 Andersson 0 0

Gay 0 0 0 0 0 Newsome 0 3 0 0

Quackenbsh 0 1 0 0 0 Ninkovic 0 2

Peterson 5 7 0 0 10

Schrader 4 6 0 0 8

Totals 27 60 5 8 60 13 42 16 19 45

Maine 31 60

Northeastern 20 45

3-pt. goals ? Maine (1-9): Veilleux 1-2, Heon 0-4, Traversi 0-2, Geraghty 0-1; Northeastern (3-16):