FARMINGTON, Maine – The visiting SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers overcame a 10-point deficit midway through the second half to defeat the University of Maine at Farmington, 65-59, on Tuesday evening in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) matchup at Dearborn Gymnasium.
The Records:
After a hard-fought loss, the Beavers dropped to 5-8 on the season with a 2-3 record in NAC play. The Fighting Tigers improved to 14-2 and are now 4-0 in the NAC.
How it Happened:
Cobleskill's defense stifled the Beavers in the first quarter, forcing six turnovers and holding Farmington to just 3-for-14 shooting. The Beavers struggled to find consistent offense, but Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine) and Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) each hit a three-pointer to keep Farmington within striking distance.
Antonia May led the charge for Cobleskill in the first quarter, scoring nine of her team-high 17 points while also recording two steals.
After trailing 20-11 at the end of the first quarter, Farmington settled in during the second. Mayo hit her second three-pointer of the game on the opening possession, pulling the Beavers back within six.
Following a three-pointer from Annie Canales that made it 25-17 with 7:30 left in the second quarter, Farmington responded with a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 27. It was the Beavers' defense that fueled the comeback. After allowing 20 points in the first quarter, Farmington held Cobleskill to just 3-for-22 shooting from the field and forced three turnovers in the second. Mayo hit another three in the final moments of the half, giving Farmington a 30-28 lead at the break.
The first four and a half minutes of the second half belonged to Mayo. She scored 10 points, hitting two layups and two deep three-pointers over five Beavers possessions. This offensive outburst helped extend Farmington's lead to 44-34—their largest of the game.
However, after Ruby McMinis (Wells, Maine) hit one free throw to give the Beavers a 44-34 lead, Farmington went cold. The Beavers failed to make another field goal for the remainder of the quarter. Cobleskill capitalized, finishing the third quarter on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to just two heading into the final period.
Canales hit a crucial three-pointer to open the scoring in the fourth, giving Cobleskill the lead. On Farmington's next possession, Jaydn Pingree (Jay, Maine) drove to the basket for a layup, ending the Beavers' field goal drought.
With just under seven minutes remaining, Mayo scored on a layup and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions, once again giving Farmington a four-point lead, 53-49. However, Cobleskill responded with a 10-0 run, capped by a critical three-pointer from Canales, to take a six-point lead and essentially seal the victory.
Stats of the Game:
Neither team shot particularly well. Farmington shot 31.7% (20-for-63) from the field and 34.5% (10-for-29) from three-point range, while Cobleskill shot 32% (24-for-75) from the field and just 22.2% (6-for-27) from beyond the arc. The Fighting Tigers won the turnover battle, forcing 15 turnovers while committing just 10 themselves. Cobleskill capitalized on these turnovers, converting them into 17 points.
Leaders - Farmington:
- Mayo scored 25 points, matching her career high on an efficient 9-for-18 shooting from the field and 6-of-12 from three-point range. She also contributed five rebounds and two assists.
- Dow recorded a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
- Sarah Poli (Benton, Maine) posted a season-high 14 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
Leaders - Cobleskill:
- May led the Fighting Tigers with 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.
- Canales finished with 14 points, including four key three-pointers.
- Meachum added a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.
Up Next:
The Beavers will travel to Vermont this weekend for a pair of NAC games. They will take on Vermont State University Johnson on Saturday at 3:00 PM and Vermont State University Lyndon on Sunday at 12:00 PM.
