It has taken a while, but Maine Maritime Academy has gradually worked its way back to the top of the North Atlantic Conference East Division women’s basketball standings.

Coach Craig Dagan’s rebuilding Mariners made a statement about their continued progress Monday night while posting a 66-52 victory over Husson College of Bangor at Smith Gymnasium in Castine.

MMA improved to 10-7 overall, 5-1 in league play, while earning its fourth consecutive win.

Despite a 14-player roster dominated by 10 freshmen, the Mariners have already begun to demonstrate the kind of defensive intensity that has helped them earn three consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances.

“We’re getting there. It’s certainly a work in progress, but we’re starting to play some pretty good basketball,” Dagan said.

Defense has been the cornerstone of the Mariners’ continued improvement.

With six NAC contests in the book, MMA ranks second in the conference while allowing only 51.7 points per game. The Mariners have allowed opponents to shoot 36 percent from the field overall and only 26 percent from 3-point range.

“That’s where it starts,” Dagan said of the defensive effort. “The last two weeks our defense and our rebounding have been outstanding. If we defend and rebound, we can be pretty good.”

While playing primarily half-court man-to-man with a little zone thrown in, MMA also has racked up nearly 16 steals per game, tops in the conference. Sophomore Kelsi Eiane of Harpswell, along with senior Kaitlyn Leeman of Baileyville and junior Megan Franklin of Skowhegan, have spearheaded the defense.

“Those three kids have been tremendous,” Dagan said. “When those kids started to exert themselves not only on the court but in the leadership aspect, everybody else fell into line.”

Dagan’s squad also has demonstrated a commitment to rebounding as MMA leads the NAC in rebounding margin (average rebounds minus opponents’ average rebounds) at plus-11.5.

Junior forward Megan Franklin of Skowhegan and freshman forward Tatum Welch of Newport share the team lead with 7.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Amythest Cousins of Tremont checks in at 4.4 per outing.

Offensively, the Mariners have demonstrated tremendous balance after losing MMA’s top three all-time leading scorers in Michelle Gott-Stillwell (1,600 points), Julia Knights (1,570) and Alyssa Burns (1,463) to graduation.

Franklin has set the tone with 9.9 points per game, while Welch has averaged 9.1 points and freshman Brittany Hunt of Hickory, N.C., 8.3 points. Senior Kaitlyn Leeman of Baileyville has contributed 7.0 ppg.

Depth has been another key ingredient for the Mariners, who have 11 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game. Franklin tops the list at 25.9 mpg.

“We’re very well-balanced, which is a good thing,” Dagan said. “We feel like we’re getting contributions from everybody and there’s not a significant dropoff between the people that are starting and the people that are coming off the bench.”

Freshmen Elizabeth Cote of Brewer, Katie Pushard of Winthrop, Cousins, Ashley Tilton of Lubec and Katie Hutchinson of Dixfield all are averaging at least 4.0 ppg.

Other key contributors Eiane and freshman Amanda Barker of Oakland.

Dagan said he and his staff have had to adjust to the young group. Not only have the coaches simplified their plan of attack, they have let the team help develop itself.

“I was trying to force upon this team how they were supposed to play, instead of letting this team establish its own identity,” Dagan said. “Now I’ve allowed them a lot more freedom in what they do on and off the floor, and I think it’s empowered them and made a big difference in their confidence level.”

SJC fans to shake mac ‘n’ cheese

Saint Joseph’s College in Standish will conduct an usual game promotion tonight when the Monks take on Rivier College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at the Alfond Center gymnasium.

Imagine the sound of 400 fans wildly shaking a box of macaroni and cheese and you’ll get the flavor of the evening.

The Hannaford supermarket in Standish has donated the 400 boxes of macaroni and cheese for use by Saint Joseph’s basketball fans during the game. When the contest ends, fans will, in turn, donate their “cheesy noisemakers” to be delivered to the new Standish Food Pantry, located at the Steep Falls Fire Barn, which is scheduled to open in February.

“We always try to make our home games attractive to fans,” said Saint Joseph’s athletic director Brian Curtin. “But this event is important because it is for a good cause as well.”

USM wrestler nets top-10 ranking

Junior Stephen Valastro of the University of Southern Maine’s wrestling team is currently rated 10th in 133-pound division in the latest National Wrestling Coaches’ Association Division III Brute-Adidas Individual Ranking poll.

Valastro, a native of Montgomery, N.Y., has a 16-2 record, 10-0 in dual meets with six pins.

He has compiled a career record of 62-16 with the Huskies.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

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