SMCC edges NHTI to advance to Final Four

 SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Southern Maine Community College's Daniel McCusker nailed a three pointer and teammate Esther Palmieri dropped two free throws with 1:10 remaining in regulation, to help SMCC edge NHTI 63-58 Thursday evening in the opening round of the Yankee Small Conference Elite Eight.

The second seeded Seawolves will play third seeded University of Maine at Augusta Saturday afternoon at 2:00.

The Lynx trailed by as many as 13 points with 9:58 remaining in the second half, but NHTI's Danielle Kimball, who had struggled from behind the arc in the first half, found the hot hand and hammered three consecutive triples to close that gap to seven. Teammate Sara Romano followed with a layup and a three pointer of her own to inch NHTI to within two, 53-51 with just under five minutes remaining.

Both teams traded free throws and before Romano scored two more of her team-high 18 points to give NHTI their first lead in the second half, 55-54 with 2:45 to go. After a Nyalieb Deng free throw tied the game at 55, NHTI's Jessica Wagner hit from downtown to put the Lynx up by three.

McCusker answer with her three, which was followed by an NHTI foul, sending Palmieri to the line where she converted the one on one. The five-point swing put the Seawolves up 60-58, and McCusker answered with a final lay-up to set the score.

McCusker led the Seawolves with a game high 22 points and eight rebounds. Forward Nyalieb Deng chipped in with a huge double double scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 boards, including seven offensive. Maria Veino also grabbed double digit rebounds, hauling in 11 to go along with five points. 

The Lady Lynx were paced by center Allura LeBlanc who scored 17 points and grabbed a team high 14 rebounds. Point guard Romano dished out eight assists to go along with her 18 points, and shooting guard Kimball scored 11 points, before fouling out late in the second half.