UM-Presque Isle used a torrid start and survival mode at the wire to win their opening contest of the 2014-15 campaign against the UM-Augusta, 66-63, Saturday in Presque Isle.
Junior Chase Vicaire paced the Owls in the early going, banging in three three-point field goals in the opening six minutes of play to spot his team to an early 14-5 advantage. The Moose came back behind big offensive rebounds and putbacks from Brandon Rogers. The Owls kept a three-point advantage into intermission, 32-29, with help from freshman Kevin Collins and several big defensive plays from sophomore Nick Lenhard.
UMPI could not pull away farther than nine points in the second half, as game-high scorer Keith Chesley of the Moose began to heat up. Freshman Trevor Lovely provided offensive spark for the Owls to keep the game virtually even. As time ebbed away, UMA took a four-point advantage 63-59 on a putback from Rogers, but the Owls were able to answer with over a minute to play on a three-point goal from Vicaire to cut the lead to one. When Lenhard forced a jump ball on the ensuing defensive possession, the Owls set up a basket attack by Collins, who made the field goal and was fouled, putting the home team up 64-63.
With a final opportunity, sophomore Jordan Cook executed the biggest defensive play of the night by drawing a player control foul with three seconds to play. Vicaire was fouled on the inbound and made both free throws to account for the final margin of victory.
On Sunday, Northern Maine Community College visited from across town and all 11 Owls contributed to the 96-41 triumph.
The Owls jumped to a 16-3 advantage in the early going behind consistent rebounding from sophomore Brandon McGill and key baskets from Collins. The Falcons were able to fight back to a 10-point deficit in the middle of the half, but then bench play from freshmen Sam Smith and Quinton Harris widened to gap to 43-18 by intermission.
In the second half, UMPI continued to take advantage of its deeper bench to keep the half-court defensive pressure on NMCC, as well as cashing in on transition baskets after rebounds. Lenhard contributed a game-high five assists, while post players McGill and freshman Maurice Harris combined for 21 rebounds. All 11 Owls got into the scoring column, with Collins’ 18 leading the way.
The Owls begin a challenging week on the road that begins in Castine against Maine Maritime Academy tonight.
UMPI women lose two
DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The Owl women could not overcome the hot shooting of North Atlantic Conference powerhouse Colby-Sawyer College, losing 93-39 Saturday afternoon at the UMass-Dartmouth Tip-Off Classic.
The much smaller Owls lineup held their own on the boards, especially on the offensive end with 16 offensive rebounds to the Chargers’ 18, but it was the long-range bombs that did in UMPI. CSC hit 12 of 26 shots from beyond the arc to secure victory in the one-sided affair.
Darby Toth had 14 points with three assists and three steals to lead the Owls. Freshman Sara Packard registered a double-double in her first collegiate game with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Lexi Iannone came in off the bench to lead the Chargers in scoring with 19, including 5 of 7 shooting from deep. Overall, CSC shot 48 percent from the field, 46 percent from three-point range and held the Owls to 17 percent shooting, allowing UMPI only 10 baskets in 60 attempts.
The following day, the Owls grabbed an early lead but could not hold on, losing to Norwich University 78-50.
UMPI showed great resiliency by coming back from a 54-point loss a day earlier, starting the game with three straight 3-pointers to move out on top until Aliah Curry knocked down a three with 7:49 left in the first half to put Norwich ahead 16-14.
The hot hand that the Owls collectively had cooled quickly after point guard Toth scored the first basket of the second half to cut the Norwich lead to 41-38.
Over the next eight minutes, Norwich went on a 20-3 run. Owl newcomer Lacey McQuarrie knocked down a jumper at the 10:38 mark to stop the bleeding with Norwich ahead 63-43, but the damage was done .
Toth led the way for the Owls with 18 points, nine assists, four steals and only one turnover on her way to being named to the Classic all-tournament team. Sophomore Sydney Churchill had nine points and Rebecca Campbell added nine rebounds for the Owls.
