CASTINE, Maine – Alexis Bennett (Freedom, Maine) scored 17 points and recorded five rebounds to lead Maine Maritime Academy to a 63-43 victory over Maine-Presque Isle on Tuesday evening. The Mariners (1-0) opened up a permanent, double-digit lead in the game's first 10 minutes.

Bennett accounted for six of the Mariners first nine points. Her layup at 14:03 of the first half sparked an 11-1 run that put the Owls (0-1) in a 14-point hole with 9:52 left in the opening stanza. The Mariners stretched the lead as large as 17 points late in the first half.

Bennett connected on eight of her 10 shots from the field and sunk one-of-two from the line to lead all scorers. She recorded three steals, two assists and blocked a shot to start her junior campaign off with a flourish. She scored five more points in the first five minutes of the second half to open the Maine Maritime lead to 20 points. It grew as large as 23 points in the waning moments of the game.

The Mariners got a strong rebounding performance from Sam Goda (Eliot, Maine). The senior forward grabbed a dozen caroms, including five on the offensive end. Classmate, Maggie Smith (Bath, Maine) scored nine points, while Casey Everest (Portland, Maine) blocked three shots. First-year Bekah Campbell (Corinth, Maine) blocked a pair.

Maine Maritime saw a dozen players break into the points column. The Mariners' bench outscored the Owls 23-1.

UMPI had two players post double-doubles. Rashell Saucier (Washburn, Maine) dropped 13 and hauled in 11 rebounds, while Olivia McNally (Sherman, Maine) put up 11 points and recorded as many rebounds. Emily Pelletier (Fort Kent, Maine) also scored 11 for the Owls.

UMPI turned the ball over 11 times in the loss, leading to 10 Maine Maritime points. The Owls managed only two points off of the Mariners' 13 turnovers.

Maine Maritime returns to action on Friday evening against Mass.-Dartmouth at the Curry College tipoff tournament. The Owls will face Maine-Farmington at the UMF Tipoff Classic, also on Friday evening.

MAINE MARITIME 63, ME.-PRESQUE ISLE 43

ME.-PRESQUE ISLE (0-1)

Rashell Saucier 3-10 7-10 13; Renee Moore 4-10 3-4 11; Emily Pelletier 4-12 1-2 11; Emily Moore 2-8 0-0 5; Olivia McNally 1-8 0-0 2; Amber Cloutier 0-2 1-3 1; Brigitte Pratt 0-0 0-0 0; Liron Albag 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 14-52 12-21 43.

MAINE MARITIME (1-0)

Alexis Bennett 8-10 1-2 17; Maggie Smith 3-9 1-4 9; Sam Goda 3-4 2-4 8; Courtney Dufour 2-7 0-0 6; Andi Flannery 3-8 0-2 6; Casey Everest 2-6 1-1 5; Jill Lavallee 1-4 0-0 3; Brittany Green 1-6 0-0 3; Jillian Perron 1-2 0-2 2; Crystal Clark 1-2 0-0 2; Brittany Gallagher 1-3 0-0 2; Kari Jones 0-1 0-0 0; Bekah Campbell 0-3 0-0 0; Alyssa Severance 0-0 0-0 0; Sydney Robertson 0-1 0-0 0; Kayley Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 5-15 63.

Me.-Presque Isle             18           25           43

Maine Maritime               30           33           63

3-point goals--Me.-Presque Isle 3-15 (Emily Pelletier 2-9; Emily Moore 1-2; Olivia McNally 0-1; Amber Cloutier 0-1; Liron Albag 0-1; Rashell Saucier 0-1), Maine Maritime 6-19 (Maggie Smith 2-6; Courtney Dufour 2-6; Jill Lavallee 1-1; Brittany Green 1-4; Kari Jones 0-1; Alexis Bennett 0-1).

Fouled out--Me.-Presque Isle-None, Maine Maritime-None.

Rebounds--Me.-Presque Isle 39 (Rashell Saucier 11; Renee Moore 11), Maine Maritime 50 (Sam Goda 12).

Assists--Me.-Presque Isle 7 (Emily Moore 2; Liron Albag 2), Maine Maritime 8 (Andi Flannery 2; Alexis Bennett 2).

Total fouls--Me.-Presque Isle 15, Maine Maritime 15.

Technical fouls--Me.-Presque Isle-None, Maine Maritime-None.