SeaWolves Down Moose in Come-From-Behind Win

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine-- The Southern Maine Community College women's basketball team came out on top in a come-from-behind 56-53 Yankee Small College Conference victory against the Moose of the University of Maine at Augusta on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Senior Jennifer Conrad (Monmouth, Maine) led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds, and a season-high eight steals. Co-captain Vanese Barnes (Jay, Maine) tied a career-high with 13 points and Kaylah Abdul (South Berwick, Maine) finished in double-figures with 11.

SMCC caught fire to begin the game scoring 24 first-quarter points, nine courtesy of Conrad. The Moose out-scored the SeaWolves in the second and third quarters by a 16-point margin to take a 48-41 advantage into the fourth.

SMCC, sitting atop the national-rankings, opened the fourth on an 8-2 run to close its deficit to one. After being denied all game, Alicia Ruth (Plaistow, N.H.) delivered a three-point dagger to give her team a 52-50 lead with 3:27 left in regulation. With the SeaWolves up by two and possession with UMA, Conrad came up with the biggest steal of the night to eventually run down the clock and lift her team to victory.

In a post-game interview, Head Coach Katie Bergeron commented, "Tonight was a battle. UMA is a great team and it's games like this one that remind us why we love to play—the excitement of tough competition. It was a mental and physical battle and I could not be more proud of the team for how they handled this challenge. We were led by the outstanding leadership of Barnes, Farquharson, and Conrad who pulled us out of scoring droughts and never let us give up!"

The SMCC women improve to 11-1 in conference play, and 19-1 overall—trailing only Central Maine Community College in the YSCC North Division standings.

The action continues when the SeaWolves play host to the Lady Bulldogs of Dean College in a non-conference clash on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tip-off from the HUB is set for 1 p.m.

Following the men's game, SMCC Athletics will be holding the annual men's and women's Timothy Hagerman Alumni Games and reception. All alumni family and friends are welcome!

For the latest on SMCC's athletic programs, log onto GoSMCCSeawolves.com or follow Southern Maine Community College Athletics on Twitter @SMCCseawolves and on Facebook SMCC Seawolves.