SHARP-SHOOTING HUSKIES PULL AWAY FOR 86-64 WIN AT TUFTS
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Southern Maine 86
Tufts 64
At Medford
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
MEDFORD – The visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies shot 61.7 percent from the floor (37/60) to win their sixth straight game, 86-64, at Tufts University in New England Division III women's basketball play on Tuesday night at Cousens Gymnasium.
Southern Maine (8-2) closed the first half with a 22-7 run over the final nine minutes to take control of the game. Sophomore Shannon Kynoch (South Burlington, VT) led the 15th ranked Huskies with 22 points and nine rebounds overall. The loss was the first of the season for the Jumbos (7-1), who were paced by 11 points apiece by juniors Jessica Powers (Massapequa, NY) and Julia Verplank (Zeeland, MI).
Tufts led just once in the game at 9-8, but played the opening 10 minutes tight against the Huskies, producing four early ties. After Jumbo sophomore Valerie Krah (Mountain Lakes, NJ) hit a jumper to make the score 27-24 Southern Maine at 9:16, the Huskies initiated their decisive run to lead 49-31 at the half. Junior Megan Myles (Turner, ME) scored seven points during the stretch to lead the way. She and Kynoch both had 11 points at the break while Verplank scored nine for Tufts. The Huskies shot 21 for 32 in the first half (65.6%) while Tufts was 1 for 17 (5.9%) from three-point territory.
The Husky led grew as large as 23 points three times in the second half, including 60-37 on a lay-up by junior Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, ME) at 14:35. The lead remained around 20 points until the six-minute mark when Tufts hinted at a comeback by cutting the margin to 15, 73-58, on a jumper by sophomore Taryn Miller-Stevens (Avon, CT) at 4:27. The hosts pulled within 15 again at 77-62 on a Krah jumper at 2:21, but it was too little too late.
Jones joined Kynoch as 20-point scorers for USM, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds and four steals. Myles recorded 14 points and fives in rebounds, assists and steals. Junior Katie Frost (Calais, ME) handed out 10 assists as the Huskies earned 27 assists on 37 baskets. They won the battle of the boards 41-32.
Miller-Stevens had eight points on 4 for 5 shooting to help the Jumbos in her first start of the season. Krah had 10 points and three assists while freshman Khalilah Ummah (Litchfield, ME) submitted a strong 15 minutes off the bench with seven points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Jumbos were just 2 for 25 (12.5%) from three-point land in the game.
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