SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— The Southern Maine Community College women's basketball team toppled the defending United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national champions, College of St. Joseph (VT), 83-52 to pick up its ninth Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) victory of the season on Saturday, Jan. 14.
First-year Alicia Ruth (Plaistow, N.H.) led all scorers in the game with 22 points and made a season-high seven three-pointers. Ruth shot 70 percent from the floor (7-10), taking only two two-point attempts. Ruth ranks second among all USCAA Division II players and first in the conference in three-point percentage making the 21-footer 42.9 percent of the time.
Sophomore Alexis Antonacci (Long Island, N.Y.) finished with 14 points, also with a season-high four three-pointers made. Senior Jennifer Conrad (Monmouth, Maine) looked like her normal self with 13 points and eight rebounds, and first-year Kaylah Abdul (South Berwick, Maine) put together a complete performance with 10 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 3 steals.
The SeaWolves outscored their opponent by a 21-point margin in the first quarter and by 14 in the third quarter to roll to a 31-point victory. The SMCC women assisted on 22 of 31 field goals made and fired near 64 percent from beyond the arc. In January the SeaWolves are shooting a season-best 43.7 percent from three-point territory.
In a post-game interview Head Coach Katie Bergeron stated, "I couldn't be happier with how our players started the game. The goal we set was to continue to allow the least amount of points scored against us and let our defense fuel our offense— this was executed to a tee. Furthermore, Ruth continues to prove why she's one of the best shooters in the country. Our backcourt tandem in Antonacci and Abdul do well to penetrate off the dribble to give our players open looks to knock down. The journey continues Wednesday."
The SMCC women extend their winning streak to three straight and improve to 9-1 in conference play, 16-1 overall.
View the photo gallery of the game HERE.
The action continues when the SeaWolves match up with the Herons from Great Bay Community College for the second time this season in a non-conference game on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Portsmouth, N.H.
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