Bowdoin beats up Husson Trenkle helps nation’s No. 1 team win 17th

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BANGOR – Bowdoin College arrived in Bangor Tuesday night as the No. 1-ranked Division III women’s basketball team in the nation.

The Polar Bears, the only remaining undefeated Division III team, didn’t suffer from cockiness or overconfidence. Instead, they exhibited championship-game intensity.

Bowdoin implemented a swarming 2-2-1 full-court press that forced many of Husson College’s 41 turnovers and the Polar Bears cashed in with a crisp transition attack while posting a convincing 70-30 victory at Newman Gymnasium.

“They obviously showed us tonight where they’re ranked No. 1 in the country,” said Husson coach Kissy Walker.

Coach Stefanie Pemper’s squad (17-0) overwhelmed Husson with relentless defensive pressure and showed tremendous balance and depth.

“We’ve been focusing on our defense a lot more this season,” said Bowdoin senior Lora Trenkle of Surry, who starred at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.

“Tonight we played awesome in our zone,” said Trenkle, who went 6-for-7 from the field and hit three 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 15 points. “We really took risks on defense and that’s what caused them 41 turnovers.”

Erika Nickerson of Benton, a former Lawrence High standout, scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and made six steals for the Polar Bears, who placed 14 players in the scoring column while shooting 43 percent from the floor.

Eileen Flaherty provided six points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots for Bowdoin, which has managed not to dwell on its national ranking.

“We just have a lot of respect for the teams that we play, the teams in the state of Maine and the teams in our conference, especially,” Pemper said.

“The only time we talk about [the ranking] is to talk about not talking about it,” she chuckled. “We definitely don’t want to let it go to our heads.”

Megan Hughes of Dexter netted six points, while Annie McIntosh of New Gloucester posted five points and a game-high 14 rebounds for Husson (13-3), which had its 12-game winning streak snapped. Crystal Martin of Calais and Holly Gracie of Frankfort each added five points and three steals.

Husson shot only 26 percent from the field overall and struggled through a drought of 17 minutes, 43 seconds without scoring a field goal.

“Our biggest weakness was getting the ball over half-court and then, once we did, we were so flustered that we really didn’t do a good job of running our offense,” Walker said. “They didn’t make anything easy for you.”

Trenkle hit two 3-pointers during an early 10-0 run that gave the Polar Bears a 15-4 lead. Husson battled for a while, but found it difficult to even get off any shots at the offensive end.

Bowdoin posted an 11-2 run during the last four minutes of the half while building a 36-18 halftime cushion. Husson committed 22 turnovers against Bowdoin’s swarming defense.

The Polar Bears called off the press in the second half, but scored the first seven points after the break. Justine Pouravelis scored off a baseline move, Vanessa Russell converted a conventional three-point play on a runner and free throw, and Trenkle nailed a 17-footer off a Flaherty steal as Bowdoin made it 46-18.

Husson managed only four foul shots until Hughes made a 12-footer that was the Braves’ first basket since the 2:50 mark of the first half.

“One of my pet peeves is giving up an easy shot,” Pemper said. “We try and take teams and individuals out of their comfort zone.”

POLAR BEARS 70, BRAVES 30

Bowdoin (17-0) Husson (13-3)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Pouravelis 3 5 1 4 7 Martin 2 9 5

Russell 2 2 1 1 6 Comeau 0 2 0

Trenkle 6 7 0 0 15 Hughes 3 6 6

Flaherty 0 3 6 6 6 Davis 0 2 0

Smith 1 6 0 0 2 McIntosh 2 5

Withey 0 3 3 4 3 Mullenix 2 4

Bramwell 2 4 3 4 7 Snow 0 0 0

Trotta 0 0 1 2 1 Ballard 0 1 2

Damon 0 0 1 2 1 Gracie 1 8 5

Cummings 1 4 0 0 2 Noyes 0 0 0

Watson 2 5 0 0 4 Merchant 0 1

Fugate 1 2 2 2 4 McIntyre 0 2

vanderVeen 0 0 2 2 2

Nickerson 5 13 0 0 10

Totals 23 54 20 27 70 Totals 10 39 14 30

Bowdoin 36 70

Husson 18 30

3-pt. goals ? Bowdoin (4-13): Russell 1-1, Trenkle 3-4, Smith 0-1, Withey 0-1, Bramwell 0-2, Cummings 0-1, Watson 0-2, Fugate 0-1; Husson (1-9): Martin 0-3, Comeau 0-2, Davis 0-1, Mullenix 0-1, Graces 1-2

Attendance: 300 (est.)