Owl women need late rally to keep undefeated record

It took a huge comeback, but the University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s basketball team is still undefeated.    The Owls moved to 5-0 on the season following Sunday’s 68-65 win over Fisher College of Boston, which required recovering from being 13 points down with eight minutes to play.
Fisher led by eight points with four minutes remaining, but some timely baskets and pressure-forced turnovers allowed UMPI to peck away. Olivia McNally drained a three-pointer with 58 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game at 63, but the Falcons answered with their own basket and had a one-point advantage and possession of the ball with 36 seconds to play.
Brigitte Pratt of the Owls then came up with a steal and teammate Kristin Thompson came up with a huge offensive rebound and putback to put UMPI up by one. Fisher then missed a three-point attempt and Darby Toth of the Owls drained a pair of free throws with 6.7 seconds left to account for the final score.
Amanda Hotham scored 18 points, Toth 13 and Pratt 12 for UMPI, which is undefeated under new coach Doug Carter.
Last Wednesday, the squad bested UM-Machias, 92-49, behind Hotham’s 21 points and seven rebounds.
Thompson (17 points, six rebounds), McNally (15 points, five steals), Sydney Churchill (13 points) and Toth (10 points and five rebounds) were the other statistical leaders for the Owls, who forced 28 Clipper turnovers throughout the contest.
UMPI goes back to work this afternoon when it hosts UM-Fort Kent at 5:30 p.m.
The Owl men participated in the Citizens Bank Tournament in New London, Conn., losing Saturday’s game to Connecticut College, 91-61, and coming back to defeat St. Joseph’s College of Long Island, N.Y. Sunday, 81-75.
In the loss, Michael Warner netted 22 points, including five three-pointers, and also grabbed five rebounds. Thiago Conceicao added nine points and five boards. UMPI was outrebounded by the Camels by a 60-30 margin. Connecticut College scored 26 second-chance points as 22 of its rebounds were on the offensive end.
On Sunday, Conceicao and Warner each posted statistical double-doubles in the victory. Conceicao had 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Warner, an all-tournament selection, had 15 points and 11 boards. Chase Vicaire led UMPI with 19 points while also dishing out three assists and collecting three steals.
St. Joseph’s held an 18-11 lead midway through the first half before the Owls mounted their comeback. The game was knotted at 59 with 10 minutes remaining before UMPI went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by Vicaire’s five points.
UMPI, which moved to 3-4 on the campaign, was without the services of head coach Jim Casciano, who missed the trip due to illness. Mike Pankow served as his replacement. The Owls take on UM-Fort Kent at Wieden Gymnasium tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of a women’s-men’s doubleheader.