NORTHFIELD, VT. - The New England College women's basketball team earned a 60-57 win over the University of Maine at Fort Kent to advance to the championship game of the Ed Hockenbury Classic Tournament, hosted by Norwich University.
The Bengals jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter before a free throw from junior Nyah Belton (Colton, Calif.) and a basket by junior Camryn Lewis (Taunton, Mass.) put the Pilgrims on the board. Back-to-back buckets from junior Jayden Estrada (La Mirada, Calif.) cut the Bengals' lead to 13-7 with 3:13 remaining in the opening quarter. UMFK answered with a series of baskets to push their lead, but Belton knocked down two free throws in the final seconds as NEC trailed 17-9.
UMFK opened the quarter with two made free throws, but Belton responded with a layup that sparked a 7-2 run, trimming the lead to 21-16. The Bengals answered with a few baskets to extend their lead, but made shots from seniors Ajayah Lively (Victorville, Calif.) and Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) brought the Bengals' lead to five points with 4:16 remaining. Both teams continued to battle throughout the quarter, and in the final seconds Lively knocked down a jumper, sending the 'Grims into halftime trailing 29-26.
The Bengals started the third quarter by going on a 6-0 run before Belton halted the surge with a layup. The teams traded baskets, and a three-pointer from Estrada cut the lead to two with 3:45 remaining. Belton then drove into the paint for another layup to tie the game at 37-37, but the Bengals answered quickly to regain the lead. Senior Macy Gordon (Boscawen, N.H.) hit a jumper to even the score at 39-39, and another Estrada three-pointer put NEC in front with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. In the closing moments, Sheyla Aguilar responded with a drive to the rim and a layup, as the Pilgrims held a 42-41 lead.
Lewis opened the fourth quarter with a basket to extend the Pilgrims lead, but a three-pointer from Ada Basoria quickly cut the lead to one. The teams continued to trade baskets, and Tamia Roebuck tied the game at 47-47 with 5:31 remaining. The back-and-forth battle continued late into the quarter, and Gordon found sophomore Kaira Creary (Federal Way, Wash.) who knocked down a three-pointer that put NEC ahead 53-52 with 3:40 left. UMFK kept pushing and narrowing the 'Grims lead, but a series of Bengals fouls allowed NEC to build the lead to 60-55 with under a minute remaining in regulation. Aguilar knocked down a jumper to cut the lead to three, and after an NEC timeout, the Bengals attempted to force overtime, but missed the three-pointer, giving the Pilgrims the 60-57 win.
Estrada paced the offense with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists while McDonald chipped in 13 points and an assist. Belton added 11 points and five rebounds, and Lewis posted a team-high nine rebounds along with nine points.
The Pilgrims return to action on Saturday to face host Norwich University in the championship game, with a 3:00 PM tipoff.
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