South Portland - This afternoon the Seawolves finished up regular season play with an overtime 63-57 win over the Rams of the Naval Prepatory Academy. This win marks the Lady Seawolves twenty-second, the most wins in a regular season in program history.
Seawolves center Amira Jones (Chicopee, MA) singlehandedly kept SMCC in the game in the first quarter, scoring the first five points as SM trailed Navy 14-5. The teams exchanged baskets and the Seawolves were still trailing by nine with less than a minute remaining when Jones completed a old fashioned three point play to cut the lead to six. A Navy Prep jumper by Mary Kate Vlasewicz with less than ten seconds remaining stretched the lead back to eight as the teams headed into the second quarter. Jones and senior center Alicia Hoyt (Steep Falls, ME) each netted six points in the second period to help the Seawolves outscore the Rams 18-12 to slash the lead to just two, 34-32, going into the intermission.
The Seawolves suffered an offensive drought in the third period, shooting only 3-12 from the field, 0-2 from three point range and 0-3 from the free throw, to score just six points in the quarter. Fortunately the SMCC defensive pressure was able to hold Navy to just 12 points so the deficit was only eight points going into the final period. Navy's Morgan Taylor put up two points to give the Rams a double digit lead but a Hoyt layup at the eight minute mark gave the Seawolves momentum as they rattled off ten unanswered points, tying the game on a Maria Veino (Sanford, ME) free throw. Jordan Turner (Casco, ME) knocked down a free throw, her first of seven makes from the charity stripe, to give the Seawolves the lead for the first time since 1:21 into the first period. A Jones layup extended the Seawolves lead to three but a Vlasewicz jumper and a Grace Roulra free throw knotted the score at 51-51 to send the game to overtime.
With 1:49 remaining in overtime the Seawolves held a one point edge but a free throw by Hoyt and a pair of free throws by Turner made it a two possession game, 61-57. Turner solidified the win when she knocked down two more free throws with less than thirty second remaining, giving SMCC the 63-57 victory.
Amira Jones scored a team high 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while Turner added 11 points, seven assists and a pair of blocks. Alicia Hoyt and Maria Veino each contributed nine points and eight rebounds for the Seawolves.
Vlasewicz led the Rams with 20 points and Morgan Taylor added 17 points, eight rebounds and eight steals.
The first playoff game for the Lady Seawolves will be held on Thursday afternoon against NHTI at 5pm. The tournament will be held at Central Maine Community College.
Southern Maine Community College empowers students to respond to a changing world and enhances economic and cultural development in Southern Maine by providing a variety of educational opportunities and partnerships.
