GORHAM – Most of the members of the University of Southern Maine women’s basketball team don’t wear the rings they received for reaching the NCAA Division III Final Four last year.

But Ashley Marble does. She wears her ring every day – except for during games, when she gives it to injured teammate Megan Patti to hold – as a reminder of how the Huskies fell short in 2005.

Marble hadn’t had a chance to put her ring back on Saturday night after a 25-point, 12-rebound performance in USM’s thrilling 56-53 victory over Bowdoin in the sectional final. It was on the Topsfield native’s mind, however, as Coach Gary Fifield’s Huskies celebrated their return to the Final Four.

USM will get another shot at the program’s first national title thanks in part to Marble’s performance against the Polar Bears as the Huskies needed a late defensive play to hold off Bowdoin and move on to the Final Four.

“It was a sour feeling. It was horrible to know we got that close,” Marble said of last year’s finish. “I think we understand now what it’s going to take. We want it so bad. We’re just playing unbelievable now. There are no words to describe this. It’s just a great feeling.”

Southern Maine, now 31-1, will face Hardin-Simmons of Abilene, Texas, in a national semifinal Friday at 4 p.m. in Springfield, Mass. The Huskies are seeking their first NCAA finals berth since 2000.

The Cowgirls are 24-5 after a 72-56 win over Randolph-Macon Saturday.

In front of a packed Warren G. Hill Gymnasium, junior Marble posted her 26th career double-double this year, including an offensive-rebound putback off a Megan Myles miss with 1:12 left in the game that gave USM a 54-53 lead.

Myles, who struggled with 1-for-11 shooting, made up for her lack of offense with the key defensive play.

Bowdoin had the ball under USM’s basket with 15.8 seconds left. Polar Bear star Justine Pouravelis (12 points, 11 rebounds) inbounded the ball to guard Katie Cummings, who dribbled down the floor and looked for Pouravelis underneath Bowdoin’s basket.

Cummings passed the ball inside, but Myles had stepped in front to help on defense. She grabbed the ball and was immediately fouled by Pouravelis. The call put the Huskies in the double-bonus, and Myles sank both free throws for a 56-53 lead with 4.8 seconds left.

The urgency that the Huskies felt – the need for a play to avoid a season-ending loss – was on Myles’ mind.

“I just knew that it could be last game or it wasn’t going to be my last game. I really hadn’t played that well all game,” Myles said. “I saw Katie Cummings coming down, showed a little help, and luckily she gave a little spin move, she gave a little air pass, and luckily it happened to go into my hand.”

Bowdoin set up a 3-point shot for Vanessa Russell, but her shot bounced off the rim and was grabbed by USM’s Donna Cowing as time expired.

Eileen Flaherty scored 19 points to pace the Polar Bears, who had a 36-33 lead at halftime thanks to 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point distance. But Bowdoin couldn’t keep it up in the second half, missing all 12 of their attempts from behind the arc. They went 20-for-62 (32.3 percent) overall.

“I just think they knew our tendencies and got their hands on almost all our shots,” Pouravelis said. “It even wasn’t like we were missing. We weren’t coming close to the hoop because they were blocking it. … They played great post ‘D’ and took us out of our game.”

The Huskies had six blocks with three each from Myles and Shannon Kynoch.

This was just the second time this season USM has been behind at the half. The first (against Salem State Dec. 17) came in what turned out to be USM’s only loss this season.

HUSKIES 56, POLAR BEARS 53

Bowdoin (27-3) USM (31-1)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Loonin 3 8 0 0 8 Cowing 2 6 5

Pouravelis 6 14 0 0 12 Sibley 2 4 5

Cummings 3 7 1 2 9 Marble 8 13 25

Berne 1 7 0 0 2 Frost 1 6 7

Flaherty 6 15 5 8 19 Myles 1 11 3

Anelausks 1 6 1 2 3 Welch 1 1 3

Noucas 0 1 0 0 0 Sylvain 0 1 1

Kaubris 0 3 0 0 0 Kynoch 2 4 4

Russell 0 1 0 0 0

Totals 20 62 7 12 53 17 46 16 19 56

Bowdoin 36 53

Southern Maine 33 56

3-pt. goals – Bowdoin (6-23): Flaherty 2-4, Cummings 2-5, Loonin 2-7, Berne 0-4, Russell 0-1, Noucas 0-1, Anelauskas 0-1; Southern Maine (6-14): Marble 2-4, Cowing 1-3, Frost 1-3, Myles 1-3, Welch 1-1

Attendance: 2,045