CASTINE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy's women's basketball team defeated Husson University 67-61 in overtime of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) East Division Finals at Smith Gym Saturday afternoon. The Mariners earned the right to defend their 2023 NAC title on their home floor. They will face SUNY-Cobleskill, who knocked off SUNY-Canton 76-33 in the NAC West Division Finals.

Sydney Briscoe's layup and one with 23 seconds left represented the 13^th and final time the lead changed in a nip and tuck affair that didn't see either team pull ahead by more than five until the game's closing seconds. Briscoe sunk her free throw to give Maine Maritime a 64-61 lead. Husson missed on a three-pointer on the following possession then sent Erianna Moore to the line for a pair of shots. Moore missed the front end before knocking down the second to make it a two-possession contest. A foul at the other end sent Hannah Richards to the line for a pair, but she was unable to connect. Moore collected the carom on the second and drew a foul with nine ticks on the clock. She calmly sunk both to close the afternoon's scoring and to give the Mariners the largest lead of the game.

Both teams had issues at the charity stripe with Husson connecting on only four of 15 shots from the line. A pair of missed free throws with 10 seconds remaining in regulation kept the score 55-55. Maine Maritime only connected on four-of-12 free throws in the first half but remedied the situation in the second half and extra period, knocking down 11-of-16 after the halftime break.

Moore's final three points at the line closed out her team-high, 17-point game. She added five rebounds, four assists, four steals and a blocked shot to the Mariners' cause. Briscoe poured in 14 points and collected 11 rebounds for Maine Maritime. The Mariners bench outscored Husson's 20-2.

Husson's Bailey Donovan did everything in her power to earn another game, dominating the glass with 25 rebounds. She also led all scorers with 24 points and blocked a pair of shots. Hannah Richards netted 15 for the Eagles on the afternoon.

Maine Maritime will return to action next Saturday, hosting SUNY-Cobleskill with the conference championship and accompanying NCAA automatic bid on the line. The opening tip time will be set later this evening.