COBLESKILL, N.Y.--The two-time champion Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball team saw its North Atlantic Conference reign come to a heartbreaking end at SUNY-Cobleskill, 55-53, on Saturday in the NAC championship game at Iorio Gymnasium. Maine Maritime, the East Division No. 1 seed, ends its season at 23-5 overall. The Fighting Tigers, the No. 1 West seed, improve to 24-4 and earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

Senior Sydney Briscoe led MMA with a double-double of 12 points and game-high 10 rebounds. Junior Evelyn Dagan scored a team-best 14 points and senior Erianna Moore added 10. Senior Makenzie Monzon (6 points, 6 rebounds) posted game highs of six assists and three steals.

Taylor Meacham (6 rebounds) had a game-high 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the field to lead the Cobleskill offense. Antonia May (8 rebounds) added 12 points and Cara Walker had 10. NAC Player of the Year Logan Thayne (8 rebounds) was held to just 1-for-10 field goal shooting and a season-low four points. 

The tightly-contested game featured six ties and three lead changes, while neither side led by more than three possessions. The teams were tied 12-12 after the first quarter and MMA led 27-24 at halftime.

The Mariners trailed 22-16 with 6 minutes and 24 seconds left in the second quarter before going on an 11-2 run to go up by three at the break.

The Tigers took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Mariners 21-15. After a Moore layup gave MMA its biggest lead at 42-36 at the 2:26 mark, Cobleskill ended the frame on a 9-0 run to lead 45-42. Meacham scored six straight points during that stretch, including a jumper to put Cobleskill in front for good 43-42.

In the fourth, the Tigers led by as many as eight points and kept the Mariners at bay.

NAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Sydney Briscoe, Maine Maritime
Jordyn Lengle, Husson
Antonia May, SUNY Cobleskill
Erianna Moore, Maine Maritime
Bella Terry, Lesley
Cara Walker, SUNY Cobleskill
MVP: Taylor Meacham, SUNY Cobleskill

(PHOTO CREDIT: Cobleskill Athletics; MMA Associate Athletic Director and SWA Tricia Carver is flanked by Sydney Briscoe, left, and Erianna Moore.)