The Bowdoin College Polar Bears ended USM’s hopes for an NCAA championship Friday night, taking a 59-55 win and moving on to the Northeast regional final with their undefeatd record intact. The Huskies, who won a school record 26 straight games en route to the rematch with Bowdoin, ended their season with a stellar 29-2 record. The Huskies’ pair of blemishes both came at the hands of number-one ranked Bowdoin.
USM entered Morell Gymnasium at Bowdoin College Friday night with a distinct focus that exuded intensity. The gym was packed well before the game began and the rival student sections exchanged verbal blows throughout the second half of the night’s opening game.
The game itself did not disappoint the highly emotional and spirited crowd.
The opening moments featured small spurts of success from each squad, only to be answered with tenacious defense and disciplined execution.
The Lady Huskies eventually took control of the game, using their skills to gain momentum and the lead for much of the first half. Sophomore Megan Myles clearly brought her ‘A’ game to Brunswick and scored five consecutive points for the Huskies to close out the first half. Heading into the lockerroom, USM led Bowdoin 29-27.
Myles continued to assert herself in the opening minutes of the second half, helping USM to open up a lead on Bowdoin. Myles’ dropped in a delicate finger roll at the 15:36 mark to give the Huskeis a 36-29 lead, and it appeared as if an upset was brewing.
The shot forced Bowdoin Coach Stepanie Pemper to take a timeout, and all indications were that USM was gearing up to put the game away. After the timeout, USM extended its lead to 11 points, but Coach Fifield found no comfort in his team’s double digit lead.
“You can never get comfortable in a game of this magnitude,” said Fifield
Fifield was right not to get comfortable as the cerebral chess match between the competing coaches continued.
Bowdoin Coach Pemper continued to make adjustments, sagging off the USM perimeter players and making a conscious effort to pressure, contain and prohibit Myles from finding open looks. This approach was moderately successful.
Bowdoin closed the lead ,and with the game once again close, Myles came up big, putting the glass to good use as her fade away dropped to put the Huskies ahead 51-49. Unfortunately for the Huskies, Senior Bowdoin guard Lora Trenkle answered, as she did all night, with a runner of her own that tied the game at 51.
Bowdoin stretched the lead to 55-51 before freshman Katie Sibley aggressively pursued the goal off the dribble, appeared to be fouled, and then finished the play by connecting on a four footer to bring the talented Huskies within two points at 55-53.
On Bowdoin’s next possession, Trenkle glided down the sideline and caught a pass in stride for a breakaway lay-up that put the Polar Bears ahead 57-53. Another Sibley penetration brought USM to within two at 57-55, but that was the closest USM came as Bowdoin lived to fight another day via an amazing victory 59-55.
With the win, Bowdoin remained undefeated and moved on the Northeast Reginonal Final.
After the game Fifield said he was happy with his team’s play and was quick to point out in the press conference that he did not speak to his team about the game, focusing rather on the accomplished season that he and his team enjoyed. He also commented on the individual performances of his players.
When asked about Sibley’s late game heroics, Fifield happily said, “She’s only a freshman, and she’ll be back.”
USM will be back next year having learned from a great season, but most importantly from a closing night of basketball that was good for both schools, the state of Maine and the game of basketball.
Andrew Sparda can be contacted at [email protected]