BANGOR – Husson College was in the midst of a determined second-half comeback Tuesday night. The Eagles had cut the deficit to 12 points against Bowdoin, the No. 1 Division III team in the country.

Polar Bears coach Stefanie Pemper decided to counter the surge – by pulling all five of her starters off the court.

Husson got within six, but Bowdoin’s bench players turned in a sound effort and secured a 71-54 victory at Newman Gymnasium.

Freshmen Caitlin Hynes of Owls Head and Sabrina Cote of Dexter were the catalysts for the Polar Bears of Brunswick, who pulled away for their 12th win without a loss.

“I think it gave us not only confidence that we can turn a game around or get a lead, but it gave the starters confidence in the people on the bench,” said Hynes, a former Rockland High standout. “I think they were excited to see us do it. It showed depth.”

In retrospect, Pemper’s plan seemed to make perfect sense.

Bowdoin plays again tonight at the University of Maine-Farmington before returning to Brunswick for key New England Small College Athletic Conference games Friday and Saturday against Williams and Middlebury, respectively.

That’s four games in five days.

“In order to make it work I really felt like we needed to give our starters a rest,” Pemper said. “We believe in our bench and that was just awesome that they were able to do that and hopefully it’s good for their confidence.”

Senior Eileen Flaherty set the tone for Bowdoin, scoring 17 points in 18 minutes. Hynes, a 6-foot forward, provided 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots – all but two points of which came in the second half.

The balanced effort included nine points from Marisa Berne of Falmouth and eight each from Cote (four rebounds, three steals, two assists) and Alexa Kaubris of Rumford. Katie Cummings had five assists.

Carmen Ballard of Skowhegan tossed in 15 points to pace Husson. Jodie Merchant of Ellsworth provided 13 points and five rebounds. Shelby Pickering of Lee chipped in with eight points, six rebounds and five steals.

Bowdoin led 45-33 with 14:48 remaining when Pemper sent in four subs. She inserted Cote between two Pickering free throws 18 seconds later.

Husson completed its 11-0 surge with a strong baseline move by Merchant and two Pickering foul shots, making it 45-39 with 13:07 to play. The Eagles had one chance to get within four, but couldn’t convert. After that, Bowdoin’s talented bench took charge.

“”I thought we competed well,” said Husson coach Kissy Walker. “I thought our intensity was good.”

Berne then nailed a 3-pointer to end a seven-minute Bowdoin drought without a field goal to energize the visitors. Hynes converted one of 26 Husson turnovers by making a finger roll off a Cote feed.

Merchant countered with a baseline basket for Husson, but Kaubris drained a 3-pointer, Kelsey Borner scored from underneath off a Cote assist and Hynes put in an offensive rebound to push Bowdoin’s lead back to 57-39 with 7:25 left.

“They don’t panic,” Walker said.

Bowdoin, which committed 20 turnovers, had forged a 17-point, first-half lead behind a swarming 2-2-1 full-court press. The Polar Bears scored 17 points off Husson miscues and held the Eagles scoreless for nearly six minutes.

“We had great intensity tonight defensively, I thought,” Hynes said. “We just put a press in recently and I think this is a good time to get it working.”

POLAR BEARS 71, EAGLES 54

Bowdoin (12-0) Husson (5-6)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Anelausks 2 4 0 0 4 Pickering 2 8

Loonin 0 4 2 2 2 Martin 1 6 2

Cummings 0 1 0 2 0 Ballard 5 14 15

Kaubris 3 4 0 0 8 Merchant 5 11 2 2 13

Flaherty 4 9 8 10 17 McIntosh 1 2

Noucas 1 4 2 2 5 Wickstrom 0 0

Hynes 3 8 4 4 10 Winters 0 1 0

Cote 3 6 1 4 8 Archer 0 3 0 0

Borner 2 3 0 2 4 Barden 2 2 5

Berne 3 9 0 0 9 Barnes 0 0 0

Leahy 1 3 0 0 2 Hichborn 0 2

Rubega 0 1 2 2 2 Rollins 2 5 5

Dow 0 0 0 0

Al. Brgdn 0 0 2

As. Brgdn 0 0 0

Totals 22 56 19 28 71 Totals 18 54 13 16 54

Bowdoin 39 71

Husson 25 54

3-pt. goals – Bowdoin (8-22): Kaubris 2-3, Flaherty1-3, Noucas 1-3, Cote 1-2, Berne 3-7, Loonin 0-4; Husson (5-21): Ballard 2-7, Merchant 1-5, Barden 1-1, Rollins 1-2, Winters 0-1, Archer 0-1, Martin 0-2, Wickstrom 0-2

Attendance: 150 (est.)