MMA to play for NAC crown

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CASTLETON, Vt. – Maine Maritime Academy bolted to a 13-2 lead Friday night en route to a 57-43 victory over Husson College in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals at Castleton State College.

Amethyst Cousins led a balanced offense for No. 2 seed Maine Maritime Academy of Castine (20-8), which meets No. 4 Becker College, a 54-42 winner over top-seeded host Castleton State, in today’s 2 p.m. title contest. It is the Mariners’ fourth straight NAC title game appearance.

Katie Pushard came off the bench to score 10 points for the Mariners, who led 34-15 at halftime. Megan Franklin pulled down 17 rebounds, leading MMA to a 53-28 advantage on the boards.

Jenny Rollins and Laura Archer tossed in 12 points each for No. 3 Husson College of Bangor (16-11), which shot only 28 percent from the field.

So. Maine 55, Keene State 34

At Gorham, Stacey Kent had 12 points, eight rebounds, five steals and a blocked shot to help lead No. 1 University of Southern Maine past No. 4 Keene State College in the Little East Conference Semifinals. No. 2 Eastern Connecticut State University defeated No. 3 Western Connecticut State University 58-46 in the earlier semifinal match.

Southern Maine and ECSU will play for the Little East Championship Saturday at 4 p.m. in Gorham.

Dawn Ross scored 11 points for the Huskies.

Danielle Graveley led Keene State with 10 points.

Keene State (16-11) 34

Graveley 5-0-10, Boudreau 1-2-4, Degou 2-2-7, Simmler 3-2-8, Sapp 1-0-2, Kinney 1-1-3, Cleveland, Zweibel, Flewelling, Veilleux, Boland, Small, Everson

Southern Maine (25-2) 55

Ross 3-2-11, Kent 4-3-12, Santa Fe 2-5-9, Kynoch 1-0-2, DeMillo 1-1-3, Danieli 2-1-5, Dixon 2-2-6, Johnson 0-1-1, Arsenault 1-2-4, Violette 1-0-2, Paradis

3-pt. goals: Gegou; Ross 3, Kent

Halftime: Southern Maine 28-16

Men’s basketball

Lesley 63, Husson 55

At Chicopee, Mass., Joe Chatman poured in 21 points, including 12-for-12 shooting from the foul line, as third-seeded Lesley University ended the season for No. 2 Husson College of Bangor in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals.

Sheraud Lee paced the Eagles with 17 points, while Brock Bradford netted 13 and Matt MacKenzie 12. Husson, which finished the season 17-10, shot 30.6 percent from the floor in the contest.

Mark Stevens posted 18 points and 11 rebounds for Lesley (22-6), which outrebounded the Eagles 45-31 and went 20-for-24 from the free-throw line.

UMass Dartmouth 75, USM 69

At Dartmouth, Mass., Dan Holbrook tossed in 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as UMass Dartmouth beat Southern Maine of Gorham in a Little East Conference semifinal.

A.J. Tavares hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the winners.

Jamaal Caterina led all scorers with 24 points for the Huskies while grabbing 11 boards. Drew Coppenrath scored 19 and Foster Oakley 12.

Southern Maine (14-13) 69

Caterina 9-5-24, Coppenrath 8-0-19, Whitaker 3-0-7, Pollock, Oakley 5-0-12, Morgan, Hebert 1-0-2, Jellison 1-0-3, Gooding 1-0-2

UMass Dartmouth (25-2) 75

Tynes 3-2-9, Stephens 2-0-4, Holbrook 9-0-18, Freeman 3-2-8, Tavares 5-2-17, Nicholson, Macchi 3-1-7, Walker 3-0-8, Boyce

3-pt. goals: Coppenrath 3, Oakley 2, Caterina, Whitaker, Jellison; Tavares 5, Tynes, Walker 2

Halftime: UMass Dartmouth 45-36