PETERSBURG, Va.—The #8-seeded Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women's basketball team defeated #9 Five Towns College 64-55 in the opening round of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournament on Sunday, Mar. 10.

After a slow first quarter, the Seawolves held Five Towns to just six points in the second to enter the half knotted 29-29.

The opposition managed to outscore SMCC by two points in the third, but junior co-captain Maddy York (Nobleboro, Maine) caught fire in the fourth quarter flushing five three-pointers to log 20 of her 30 total points. York's production in the fourth accounted for all but one SMCC basket.

First-year guard Ember Hastings (Hollis, Maine) connected for 10 points on 5-10 shooting, and the Seawolves' backcourt Hope Butler (Rockland, Maine) and Jenna Philbrook (Rochester, N.H.) combined for an impressive 24 rebounds. Senior center Aija Andrews (Norwalk, Conn.) put together a dominant stat line aside from her six points to include 12 rebounds, seven blocks, and seven assists.

Five Towns' Judith Girones led her team with 16 points on 6-13 from the floor.

SMCC advances to the quarterfinal round to take on #1 Johnson & Wales University- Charlotte on Monday, Mar. 11. Tip-off at Virginia State University is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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