CASTINE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy Women's Basketball fell to New England College on Saturday afternoon, 76-54 inside of Smith Gymnasium.

The Mariners held an early 8-2 lead, following a pair of 3-pointers from Mary Badeen (Newport, Maine) and a layup from Kristi Willey (Topsham, Maine), but the Pilgrims took a 10-8 lead after Kayla Lawlor sank a three. 

The two teams fought back and forth before the Pilgrims went on a 13-point run to build a 27-14 lead with 7:33 remaining in the half. Maine Maritime used four points from Badeen and another Willey layup to close the game to 44-32 heading into the halftime.

The Pilgrims did not relinquish their lead in the second half, building as much as a 22-point lead with 22 seconds remaining, to take the conference victory and sweep the season series over the Mariners. 

Badeen led the Mariners with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Willey added 13 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists and Maggie McConkey (Fryeburg, Maine) contributed 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds. 

Kayla Lawlor led the Pilgrims with 22 points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal, while Taylor Burgess ended the evening with 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block. Tiffany Davis grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, while adding eight points.

Maine Maritime falls to 9-12 overall and 6-8 in the North Atlantic Conference, while New England College improves to 16-5 and 10-4.

The Mariners return to action on February 13 when they travel to Johnson State.