UMPI teams wrap up semester play

After reeling off seven consecutive victories to begin the season, the University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s basketball team tasted defeat for the first time Sunday, losing to Apprentice School of Newport News, Va., 75-57, in a game played at UMPI’s Wieden Gymnasium.    Courtney Collins scored 21 points off the bench to lead Apprentice, which improved its record to 7-3.
Owl point guard Darby Toth tossed in 15 points, including the team’s only two three-point field goals of the game. Olivia McNally and Amanda Hotham both scored 12 for UMPI.
Earlier in the week, the Owls picked up home victories over UM-Fort Kent and UM-Machias.
In the 55-52 triumph over the Bengals last Wednesday, UMPI was outrebounded by a 35-20 margin, but after leading by two points at intermission after 13 first-half lead changes, were able to widen the advantage and never faced a second-half deficit.
McNally totaled 19 points and Brigitte Pratt had 10 to lead UMPI. Sydney Churchill of Fort Fairfield hit a jumper with 7:49 left to give the Owls a 13-point lead, but UMFK battled back to cut the lead down to three, which was the final margin.
On Friday, the Owls rolled past UM-Machias, 75-46, behind a 22-point, 10-rebound performance from Fort Fairfield’s Hotham.
Rebecca Campbell of Washburn tossed in 13 points and hauled in 17 boards, while Churchill had 15 points, including three three-pointers.
The Owls of coach Doug Carter resume play Jan. 2 with a noon contest in Boston against Eastern Nazarene.
The UMPI men came through with a win in their lone game of the week, last Wednesday’s 77-67 victory over UM-Fort Kent. The Owls scored 13 consecutive points to begin the second half after leading by only one point at halftime.
All five Owl starters finished in double figures in scoring, with Michael Warner leading the charge with 22 points to go along with seven rebounds. Thiago Conceicao had 17 points and 11 boards and Chase Vicaire netted 15 points.
UMPI’s scheduled game against Div. I UM-Orono Sunday was postponed due to the snowstorm. Coach Jim Casciano’s team will not play another game until after the new year.
Eastern Nazarene will be the opponent in a game to be played in Boston Jan. 2 with a 2 p.m. tipoff scheduled.