~Courtesy of NEC Sports Information~

HENNIKER, N.H.—Rachel Williams (Chapel Hill, N.C.) totaled 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the New England College women's basketball team to a 67-56 North Atlantic Conference win over the visiting Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy on Friday evening at Bridges Gym. 

With the win, the Pilgrims improve to 17-5 overall and 10-5 in NAC play, while the loss drops the Mariners to 10-11 and 7-7 in league play. 

Both teams shot an identical 37.5 percent from the field in the first half, but the Pilgrims hit 12 shots in comparison to Maine Maritime's nine shots to take the 32-23 advantage into halftime.  The Mariners recovered by shooting 13-22 (59.1 percent) in the second half, but the Pilgrims did not relinquish the lead and narrowly outscored the Mariners 35-33 in the second half to post the 67-56 NAC win. 

Williams shot 7-14 from the field and 8-14 at the line to lead the Pilgrims, while Kayla Lawlor (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) scored 12 points on 4-11 shooting including three three-point baskets.  Katarina Muska (Brimfield, Mass.) aided NEC with 11 points.  Taylor Burgess (Randallstown, Md.) led the Pilgrims on the boards, totaling 11 rebounds including seven on the offensive end.

The Mariners were led by Sam Goda (Eliot, Maine) who totaled 12 points on 7-12 shooting.  She also added three steals and three rebounds for the Mariners.  Bekah Campbell (Corinth, Maine) aided the Mariners with 12 points on perfect 6-6 shooting, while Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) and Kayley Rodriguez (Quincy, Ill.) both added six points apiece. 

The Pilgrims return to action tomorrow when they host Husson University at 1:00 p.m. in NAC play.  Maine Maritime is also in action tomorrow, traveling to Colby-Sawyer for a 1:00 p.m. NAC matchup. 

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE 67, MAINE MARITIME 56

MAINE MARITIME (10-11, 7-7 NAC)

Sam Goda 7-12 0-3 14; Bekah Campbell 6-6 0-1 12; Kayley Rodriguez 2-3 2-2 6; Leah Jackson 1-5 4-6 6; Maggie Smith 2-8 0-2 5; Casey McCloskey 2-5 0-0 5; Casey Everest 0-1 3-4 3; Courtney Dufour 1-2 0-0 3; Sydney Robertson 1-1 0-0 2; Crystal Clark 0-1 0-0 0; Jillian Perron 0-2 0-2 0; Kari Jones 0-0 0-0 0; Alyssa Severance 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-46 9-20 56.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE (17-5, 10-5 NAC)

Rachel Williams 7-14 8-14 24; Kayla Lawlor 4-11 1-2 12; Katarina Muska 4-7 3-5 11; Jessie Ledy 1-10 3-4 6; Danika Johnson 2-4 0-1 4; Taylor Burgess 1-6 1-2 3; Jasmine Ledy 1-2 0-0 3; Aundrea Baldridge 1-2 0-0 2; Kate Levy 0-3 2-2 2; Shauntaye Pumphret 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-59 18-30 67.

Maine Maritime................   23   33  -   56

New England College...........   32   35  -   67

3-point goals--Maine Maritime 3-6 (Courtney Dufour 1-2; Casey McCloskey 1-1; Maggie Smith 1-3), New England College 7-22 (Kayla Lawlor 3-7; Rachel Williams 2-3; Jasmine Ledy 1-1; Jessie Ledy 1-8; Kate Levy 0-1; Katarina Muska 0-2).

Fouled out--Maine Maritime-Kayley Rodriguez; Leah Jackson, New England College-None.

Rebounds--Maine Maritime 39 (Leah Jackson 8), New England College 36 (Taylor Burgess 11). Assists--Maine Maritime 10 (Casey McCloskey 3), New England College 12 (Katarina Muska 3; Taylor Burgess 3).

Total fouls--Maine Maritime 24, New England College 19.

Technical fouls--Maine Maritime-None, New England College-None.

A-138