WATERVILLE -- The University of Maine at Farmington women's basketball team dropped its North Atlantic Conference season opener 85-78 in overtime to Thomas College this evening.

The Beavers (3-7, 0-1) are slated to travel to Vermont this weekend to face conference foes Castleton (Friday, 5:30 p.m.) and Green Mountain College (Saturday, 2 p.m.). The Terriers improved to 3-6 (1-0).

Ashley Busque (Belgrade, Maine) paced the Beavers in scoring with 20 points, while Jillian Ross (Belfast, Maine) and Kenni Norton (Strong, Maine) each contributed double-doubles. Ross scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds with Norton adding 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and Emma Morrison (Saco, Maine) chipping in 12 points. Farmington held a 63-42 advantage off the glass.

Mallorie Blakney (Fairfield, Maine) led all scorers with 30 points (six 3-pointers) for the Terriers, who also received double-digit scoring from Karin Bird (Lee, Maine) with 21 points and Kellie Martel with 11 points. Bird hit 12 of 14 free-throw attempts as Thomas knocked down 27 of its 31 foul shots. The Terriers only shot 31.9 percent (22-69) for the game from the field.

After a 66-66 regulation stalemate, Blakney drilled three 3-pointers and Bird hit five of six from the charity stripe as the Terriers outscored Farmington 19-12 in overtime to take the win.

Busque scored 13 first-half points as Farmington opened the contest with a 10-2 run over the first 4:18 and maintained the lead for most of the frame. A late Thomas 8-0 stretch helped the hosts into the lead at 27-26, but the Beavers took a 32-30 edge into halftime.

The Beavers took control halfway through the second half with an 11-0 run -- highlighted by seven points from Ross to make it 59-49 with 4:37 left to play in the game. With three 3-pointers made by Blankey, the Terriers came back to make it 66-63 with 24 seconds remaining. The Terriers tied it up with 0.9 seconds left with a three point made by Ashley Matchett (Skowhegan, Maine).