The University of Maine at Presque Isle basketball teams were in action this past week. The men defeated Central Maine Community College at home last Wednesday before dropping road games to the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Fort Kent, while the women had just one game and lost to CMCC.
The Owl men got past the Mustangs at Wieden Gymnasium, 54-52. Kirstijan Gavrilovski hit a pair of free throws with 4:51 to play to give the hosts the lead for good. Kevin Collins scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jordan Cook and Kim Collins netted eight and seven points, respectively.
On Saturday, UMPI took on Div. I UMaine and were beaten by a score of 96-45. The Owls held a 13-12 lead seven minutes into the contest thanks to the hot shooting of Derek Healy (two three-pointers) and Kim Collins (one), but the host Black Bears took control with a 28-7 run to end the first half. Maurice Harris’s 16 points were tops for UMPI.
The Owls were back on the road Monday, making the trip up to Fort Kent to take on the Bengals. The games stayed close throughout before the Bengals held on for a 68-63 triumph. Kevin and Kim Collins tossed in 16 points each to lead 1-4 UMPI, which takes on Unity at home Thursday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Coach Traci Halvorson’s Owl women gave CMCC a good battle for a half before succumbing in the home game played last Wednesday, 82-56.
UMPI trailed by just seven at halftime but went on a huge run early in the third quarter to win going away. Amanda Hotham hit all 12 of her free throws en route to a 22-point performance to lead the Owls. Sydney Churchill had 11 points and freshman Emilia Churchill scored five points and added four rebounds and four assists.
The Owls will look to end its four-game losing streak to begin the season Saturday when they host Maine Maritime Academy at noon.
