FARMINGTON, Maine - After securing their first playoff victory since the 2019-20 season, the University of Maine at Farmington women's basketball team (19-7, 15-3 NAC) will travel to Bangor on Sunday afternoon to take on second-seeded Husson University (17-8, 15-3 NAC) in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) semifinal. Game time on Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m.
NAC Quarterfinal Recap:
The Beavers breezed past sixth-seeded VTSU Lyndon on Thursday evening, leading essentially wire-to-wire in an 80-44 victory. Farmington's defensive pressure was the biggest difference in the game, forcing 36 Hornet turnovers that led to 34 points off turnovers and 12 fast-break points. Of the 36 turnovers, 16 were live-ball, with all five Beaver starters recording two or more steals. Junior forward Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine) spearheaded the defensive effort, recording a game-high five steals in just 27 minutes of action.
Offensively, the Beavers were paced by sophomore guard Jaydn Pingree (Jay, Maine), who tallied a game-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists while shooting 8-of-17 from the floor. Pingree scored from multiple areas on the floor, getting to the rim, hitting numerous mid-range jumpers, and getting to the free-throw line, where she went 5-of-8.
Farmington made a change to its starting lineup for just the second time all season, inserting first-year Kytana Williamson (Nobleboro, Maine). The move paid dividends on the defensive end, as she served as the primary defender on Hornet starting point guard Ella Huntington. Williamson forced Huntington into nine turnovers and finished with three steals.
The insertion of Williamson into the starting lineup moved junior guard Audrey Mackie (South Thomaston, Maine) to the bench to help stabilize scoring in the second unit. Mackie did just that, shooting 4-of-7 from the floor and connecting on one three-pointer en route to nine points in just 15 minutes of action.
For Husson, as the second seed, they received a bye directly into the semifinal round, and Sunday will mark their first playoff contest.
Season Matchups:
The Beavers claimed the victory in round one, toppling the Eagles 78-67 at home back in December. The win marked Farmington's first victory over Husson since 2007. Farmington's one-two punch of Pingree and Dow led the way, combining to score 47 points on 16-of-36 shooting from the floor and 13-of-19 from the charity stripe.
Pingree scored a game-high 26 points while also recording three rebounds, three assists, and two steals despite battling foul trouble throughout. Dow added a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double, one of six she recorded this season. She also contributed seven assists and three steals.
The Beavers were able to speed up Husson's offense, forcing 23 turnovers and holding the Eagles to just 30.8% shooting from the floor and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Lilly Roy led the way for the Eagles, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds while connecting on three three-pointers. A first-year guard added 18 points, doing most of her damage at the free-throw line, where she went a perfect 10-of-10. Husson's leading scorer, Saige Evans, was held to just 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the floor, though she did grab a game-high 17 rebounds in 38 minutes.
The second matchup between the teams flipped, as the Eagles controlled play from start to finish, toppling the Beavers 52-38. Farmington had its worst shooting performance of the season, shooting just 20.0% from the floor and 10.3% from beyond the arc. The Eagles used a 2-3 zone defense that packed the paint and completely stymied the Beavers' offense.
Farmington still forced 22 turnovers while holding Husson to just 38.6% shooting from the floor. Evans and Danielle Dow each recorded double-doubles to lead the way for Husson.
What's at Stake:
The winner of Sunday afternoon's game will advance to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship to face the winner of fifth-seeded SUNY Cobleskill and top-seeded Maine Maritime Academy next Saturday. The Fighting Tigers and Mariners square off at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of last season's NAC Championship, in which Cobleskill secured a 55-53 victory.
