CASTINE, Maine – Despite a pair of double-doubles and a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, the Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball team fell 80-77 to Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday afternoon at Smith Gymnasium.
The Mariners battled throughout a game that featured eight ties and multiple lead changes before the Monks used a late three-point shooting surge to escape with the victory.
Freshman
Olivia Silkaitis led Maine Maritime with a game-high 21 points while adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. Freshman
Adalynn Busch recorded her own double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Mariners hold a 37-29 advantage on the boards and score 46 points in the paint.
Senior
Laney Lyle added 13 points, four assists and two steals, while junior
Addison Forry contributed 10 points and five rebounds. Freshman
Kienzle Smith provided a spark off the bench with six points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
Maine Maritime opened the contest strong, building an early lead before taking a 21-18 advantage into the second quarter. St. Joseph's answered in the second period, outscoring the Mariners 21-12 to claim a 39-33 halftime lead.
The Mariners came charging back after the break. Busch and Forry led the effort inside, while Lyle connected on a key three-pointer during a stretch that helped Maine Maritime erase a deficit and pull even at 50-50 late in the third quarter. However, a three-pointer by St. Joseph's at the buzzer gave the visitors a 60-56 advantage entering the final period.
The Monks extended the lead to seven points early in the fourth quarter before Maine Maritime rallied again. Silkaitis converted a three-point play and later drilled a three-pointer with 3:31 remaining to pull the Mariners within one at 68-67. After St. Joseph's regained control briefly, Forry scored inside with 2:41 left to tie the contest at 71-71.
St. Joseph's answered with a three-pointer and several late free throws to maintain the advantage. Busch scored with 11 seconds remaining to bring Maine Maritime within three at 78-75, and Lyle added a layup with two seconds left, but the Mariners could get no closer.
Maine Maritime shot 45.5 percent from the floor and converted 13-of-17 free throws while forcing 12 turnovers. The Mariners also held a 15-5 edge in offensive rebounds and received 27 points from their bench.
The Mariners return to action on Friday on the road against Lasell University beginning at 7 p.m.
