FARMINGTON, Maine – Melinda Ogden (Searsport, Maine) tallied a career-high 20 points to lead Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball to a 79-64 victory over UMaine-Farmington on Saturday afternoon in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action inside of Dearborn Gymnasium.

With the victory the Mariners conclude the regular season at 18-7 overall and 13-5 in the conference and clinch the fourth seed in the upcoming NAC Tournament. Maine Maritime will host Lyndon State College for a NAC Quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday night. The Beavers conclude their season at 7-18 overall and 4-14 in the NAC.

The Mariners jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Beavers got on the scoreboard and Maine Maritime took a 21-9 lead into the second quarter, led by 11 points from Ogden. 

UMaine-Farmington scored four-unanswered points to start the second quarter, but the Mariners used a 10-2 run to take a 32-18 lead with just under five minutes to play in the quarter and took a 42-26 advantage into halftime.

Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Ogden led all players with 14 points in the first half, while McKenna Brodeur led the Beavers with seven points. 

The Mariners picked up where they left off in the third quarter, outscoring the Beavers 21-12 in the third quarter to take a 63-38 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

Maine Maritime never looked back in the fourth, cruising to a 79-64 victory.

Ogden added two rebounds, two steals and an assist to go with her game-high 20 points, while Felix finished the afternoon with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Caitlin Kane (Wilton, Maine) contributed nine points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist. Megan McLean (Eliot, Maine) chipped in with seven points, a team-high six assists, two rebounds and a steal and Chloe Smedley (York, Maine) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while also tallying four points and an assist.

Brodeur, Morgan Crocker, and Haley Felkel led the Beavers with 11 points each, while Felkel pulled down a team-leading seven rebounds.

The Mariners shot 41.2 percent from the floor, while the Beavers shot 40 percent from the floor, and Maine Maritime held a 43-32 edge in rebounds.

Castleton University (21-4 overall) claimed the top seed in the conference tournament after compiling a 16-2 record in NAC play and will earn a bye in Tuesday's quarterfinal round. Second-seeded Colby-Sawyer (20-5 overall, 15-3 NAC) will also earn a bye in the quarterfinals.

Husson (16-9, 14-4) claimed the No. 3 seed, while Maine Maritime, Lyndon (14-11, 10-8) and New England College (14-11, 9-9) earned the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 seeds respectively to complete the six-team tournament field. Two quarterfinal contests will be played on Tuesday, both games times will be announced on Sunday.  

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Friday, February 23, at top-seeded Castleton. The Spartans will play the winner of the Maine Maritime versus Lyndon quarterfinal, while the No. 2 Chargers will take on the winner of the Husson versus New England College quarterfinal contest. Semifinal game times will be announced at a later date.

Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, February 24, at Castleton at a time to be determined.

Please note that all tournament start times are subject to change.

The NAC Women's Basketball Champion will receive an automatic berth to the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

2018 NAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
All start dates/times are subject to change

Quarterfinals • Tuesday, February 20 (at higher seeds)
No. 5 Lyndon (14-11 overall, 10-8 NAC) at No. 4 Maine Maritime (18-7, 13-5) - TBA
No. 6 New England College (14-11, 9-9) at No. 3 Husson (16-9, 14-4) - TBA 

Semifinals • Friday, February 23 (at Castleton)
4/5 winner at No. 1 Castleton (21-4, 16-2) - TBA
3/6 winner vs. No. 2 Colby-Sawyer (20-5, 15-3) - TBA

Championship • Saturday, February 24 (at Castleton)
Semifinal Winners - TBA

For the Interactive Tournament Bracket - click HERE.
For the Printable (PDF) Tournament Bracket - click HERE.