SALEM, Mass. – Sophomore Emily Nicholson (Quispamsis, New Brunswick/Kennebecasis Valley) scored a career-high 15 points to lead three players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies overcame a slow start to down the Salem State University Vikings 81-46 at Twohig Gymnasium Tuesday evening in a non-conference women's basketball game.
The win is the second straight for the Huskies who improve to 4-4 on the season. USM has played six of its first eight games on the road this season. Salem State drops to 3-4 with the loss suffering its second set back in as many games.
Nicholson was 3-for-5 from distance and 6-for-10 from the field overall to lead a balanced Southern Maine offense. USM shot 46.3 percent (31-for-67) from the field and 8-for-19 from three-point range en route to its highest point total of the season. Sophomore Alison Furness (Wells, Maine) added 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting, while senior Megan Pelletier (Winslow, Maine/Messalonskee) added 11 points, three rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals in limited action. USM had six other players record at least five points, including eight points from senior Gretchen Anderson (Kittery Point, Maine/St. Thomas Aquinas) and seven points each from freshmen Kimberly Howrigan (Fairfield, Vt./Bellows Free Academy) and Genesis Santana (Lawrence, Mass.). Santana added three assists and two steals, while Howrigan shared team-high honors with sophomore Miranda Nicely (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) with eight rebounds.
Salem State junior Sarah Callahan (Pelham, N.H./Lowell Catholic) was the only Viking in double-figures with 10 points, three assists and two steals. Junior Kaitlyn Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) added nine points, and freshman Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) tossed in seven points and grabbed five rebounds.
After waiting six and a half minutes for the first points of the game to be scored – a pair of free throws from Salem State – USM found its scoring touch and closed out the first quarter on an 11-0 run to lead the Vikings 11-2 headed to the second quarter. Howrigan scored five of her seven points in the run, including a traditional three-point play.
Salem State opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run to trail USM 13-10 with 7:05 to play after an offensive rebound and the put back from senior Tahira Peralta (Stoughton, Mass.), but USM countered with an impressive 25-0 run to close out the first half and take a damaging 38-10 lead at the break. Pelletier scored all of 11 of her points in the run, while Furness and Anderson each had five points.
Salem State opened the third on a 6-2 run, but USM junior Ella Ramonas (Portland, Maine/Deering) canned a three at the 6:54 mark, and USM never led by less than 24 the rest of the quarter to take an insurmountable 57-26 lead at the break. The Huskies continued to roll in the fourth and led by as many as 37 points late in the game en route to the win.
Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) when it travels to Western Connecticut State for its third consecutive road game. Salem State travels to Plymouth State on Thursday (5:30 p.m.) for a non-conference game.
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