CASTINE, Maine – Junior guard Brittany Hunt (Hickory, N.C.) nailed six three pointers in the first half and went on to score 24 points as the Lady Mariners from Maine Maritime beat Wentworth 59-47 in the championship game of the 2011 Mariner Classic.
Maine Maritime jumped out to a 32-25 halftime lead due to the efforts of Hunt who scored 20 first half points including six consecutive trifectas. The Lady Mariners continued to pressure the Leopards in the second stanza and eventually increased the lead to double digits after a Maggie Smith (Bath, Maine) bucket midway through the second period. The hosts controlled the glass and made free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) and Sam Goda (Eliot, Maine) dominated the glass, combining for 23 rebounds in the game. Hunt led all scorers with 24 points and was named the tournament MVP for her efforts. Jackson was also named to the all-tournament team after posting 20 rebounds and playing outstanding defense in the two games. Maine Maritime held a 49-37 advantage on the glass.
Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) led the Leopards with 16 points while Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.), Jordan Biggar (Beverly, Mass.), and Meagan Pennock (Littleton, N.H.) each had three assists. Both Kerr and Vallone were named to the all-tournament team.
The win, the Lady Mariners' second straight, improves Maine Maritime's record to 5-4 on the season while Wentworth drops to 6-6. Maine Maritime is at Bates on Friday night while Wentworth opens The Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday at home against Gordon.