FARMINGTON, Maine – The University of Maine at Farmington women's basketball team successfully beat back Maine Maritime Academy second-half surge, and posted a 56-43 North Atlantic Conference win over the Mariners Tuesday night at Dearborn Gym.

Senior Kenni Norton (Strong, Maine/Mt. Abram) led UMaine-Farmington (4-8, 4-3 NAC) with 15 points, most of that at the free-throw line. Norton was 10-of-11 at the charity stripe, and just 2-of-10 from the field.

Sophomore Lindsay Ranquist (Owls Head, Maine/Medomak Valley) added nine points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, leading a UMF squad that outworked Maine Maritime (4-7, 2-4 NAC) by a 44 to 35 margin on the boards.

Senior Rachel Clement (Gray, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) chipped in with seven points and six rebounds, while rookie Ayla Allen (Rumford, Maine/Mountain Valley) came off the bench with seven points.

Maine Maritime's Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine/Brewer) led the Mariners with a season high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, and completed the double-double with a season high 19 rebounds. Reserve guard Mary Badeen (Newport, Maine/Messalonskee) was the only other Mariner in double digits with 12 points, and grabbed six rebounds.

After leading 28-18 at the break, UMaine-Farmington stretched its lead to 14 points with 13:46 to play following a 3-pointer by Bianca Stoutamyer (Madision, Maine/Madison Area Memorial).

Maine Maritime slowly chipped away at the deficit with a 14-4 run, and pulled to within four points of the Beavers, 41-37, on Badeen's trey with 7:20 showing.

UMF answered by outscoring the Mariners 12-1 over the next three minutes to take a 53-38 lead. Maine Maritime logged just one field goal the rest of the way – a layup by Rebekah Campbell (Corinth, Maine/Central) at the 3:37 mark – as the Beavers held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

UMaine-Farmington returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 10, when it travels to Waterville to face Thomas College in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Maine Maritime will host Johnson State on Friday, Jan. 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Margaret Chase Smith Gymnasium.

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