Presque Isle, ME - The UMaine-Presque Isle Owls were in need of a win tonight to keep their North Atlantic Conference playoff hopes alive and to do so, they would have to beat the NAC's #2 Team, Maine Maritime Academy, for a second time this season. UMPI (7-15, 2-10 NAC) would battle the Mariners (15-6, 9-2 NAC) through the first 20 minutes in a low scoring half before MMA would open up the game in the 3rd quarter and pull away for a 54 to 33 win.

The game was just 2 to 0 MMA at the 7:36 mark when Hunter Mercier came up with a steal and Sarah Mussleman (Fr. Turlock, CA) drained a 3 pointer from the top of the key to put UMPI up 3 to 2. Rhylee Wright (Jr. Frenchville, ME) scored on an assist from Marissa Valdivia-Reagle (So. Seattle, WA) and the Owls went ahead 5 to 2. Mariners sophomore guard Morgan Boudreau would drill a 3 pointer to knott the game at 5 apiece at the 4:22 mark of the 1st quarter. Eryn Doiron of Wilton, ME would give MMA a 6 to 5 lead hitting on the 2nd of two free throws. Musselman would score on a driving layup as the lead changed hands once again with the Owls up 7 to 6 and the quarter would end in a 9 to 9 deadlock.

Kendra Silvers (So. North Berwick, ME) connected on a 15 foot baseline jumper to open the 2nd quarter giving Me-Presque Isle an 11 to 9 lead before forward Lauren Plissey tied it up on a foul line jumper for the Mariners. Two free throws by Hunter Mercier (Fr. Fairfiled, ME) put UMPI back on top at the 7:25 mark. Both teams played solid defensively and it was 2 minutes later before another Boudreau 3 pointer would give the visitors a 14 to 13 advantage. Mikayla Charters scored inside and MMA went up 16 to 13 until the Owls Laura Aroz (Jr. Tucson, AZ) scored on a baseline inbounds pass from Mercier. MMA would get the largest lead for either team with 2:34 remaining in the 1st half, 20 to 15, when senior Alayne Felix would score on a nice up and under move in the paint. Maine Maritime would score another hoop to go into the break leading 22 to 15.

A Lauren Plissy layup, a Megan McLean jumper from the left elbow, and a Melinda Ogden drive and score gave the Mariners a 28 to 15 advantage four minutes into the 2nd half.  The Owls Mercier would knock down a 3 pointer to make it 30 to 18 but MMA would outscore UMPI 21 to 7 in the quarter and sustain their lead the rest of the way.

Center Alayne Felix paced Maine Maritime with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Melinda Ogden scored 14 including three from behind the arc, and Boudreau added 7 points.

For Me-Presque Isle, Sarah Musselman led the way with 9 points and also, had 4 rebounds. Hunter Mercier scored 7 points, 3 rebounds and recorded 2 steals. UMPI only shot 20% from the floor as a team on the evening.

Next up: The Owls will travel to Northern Vermont - Johnson University for two games this weekend to close out their NAC schedule and will host UMFK February 12th in their final game of the 2018-2019 season.