Marble leads Huskies into Div. III tourney

After watching classmates Shannon Kynoch and Katie Sibley suffered season-ending injuries, Ashley Marble has gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of laying it all on the line every time out.

Tonight, with the future of her own stellar career riding on the outcome, the senior forward from Topsfield will lead the University of Southern Maine into its first-round NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament game against Williams College at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.

“I get myself mentally prepared a lot before games so when I step out on the court, I know it potentially could be my last game and I’m prepared to help my team win,” Marble said on the eve of the NCAA openers, four of which involve Maine colleges.”

Coach Gary Fifield’s eighth-ranked Huskies (25-2) make their 13th straight NCAA appearance in an 8 p.m. contest against the Ephs (20-6) of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Fitchburg State (25-2) and Norwich (24-3) play the 6 p.m. game.

Top-ranked Bowdoin College (26-1) is hosting first- and second-round games at Morrell Gymnasium in Brunswick. Coach Stefanie Pemper’s NESCAC champs face Mount Holyoke College (21-7) at 7 p.m.

At 5 p.m., North Atlantic Conference runner-up Maine Maritime Academy of Castine (25-3) plays Little East runner-up Keene State (21-6).

Also in the 63-team field is NAC champion University of Maine-Farmington. The 21st-ranked Beavers are in Boston for a 5:30 p.m. game against 17th-ranked Brandeis (19-5). Host and No. 13 Emmanuel (27-1) and Salve Regina (22-6) play at 7:30.

Today’s winners advance to Saturday’s second-round games at the same sites.

Marble, the three-time LEC Player of Year who is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per contest, has put this USM team on her back.

“When Sib [Sibley] went out, I felt that kind of put a little bit more weight on my shoulders and I just want to get my team back to the Final Four,” said Marble, a former Woodland High School star.

USM, which also features Stacey Kent (10.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Angela Santa Fe (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), and Nicole Paradis (6.7 ppg, 2.7 apg), encounters a Williams squad that presents some matchup problems in the post.

Norwich returns to USM’s Hill Gym for the second straight year. The Cadets, who lost to the Huskies in the second round, are led by sophomore forward Monica Selander of Caribou, who is averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds.

UM-Farmington coach Jamie Beaudoin knows his team has a tough draw against the Judges, who play in the highly regarded University Athletic Association.

“All five of their losses are to teams ranked in the top 25,” said Beaudoin, whose Beavers are making their second consecutive NCAA appearance.

UMF lost to Norwich by 10 points last season at Gorham.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to use that as a learning experience,” Beaudoin said.

The Beavers try to create problems with their full-court pressure and transition attack. Leaders include Kari Simpson of Wells (15.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Karen Sirois of Augusta (12.0 ppg, 4.7 apg).

Brandeis, also making its second straight NCAA trip, is paced by Jaime Capra (15.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

Maine Maritime can fall back on some confidence and familiarity as it enters NCAA play for the third year in a row. Coach Craig Dagan’s Mariners beat Keene State 77-74 in overtime on the Owls’ home court back on Dec. 31.

MMA is the only team to beat Bowdoin this season and did so on the Polar Bears’ home court.

“Playing in this bracket with the teams that we’ve already beaten is going to give [the players] a lot of confidence,” Dagan said.

The Mariners’ top guns are seniors Alyssa Burns of Dixfield (17.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.1 spg), Shelly Gott-Stilwell of Tremont (13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg), and Julia Knights of Brookton (11.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg).

Keene State is led by Sarah Begnoche (15.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg).

Bowdoin has the luxury of playing where few teams have won in recent years. The Polar Bears are 82-1 at home since Feb. 10, 2001. They are led by NESCAC Player of the Year Eileen Flaherty (18.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Jill Anelauskas (11.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg).