GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine) recorded game highs of 22 points and nine rebounds to lead three Huskies in double figures in points and the University of Southern Maine rolled to an 83-57 triumph over the visiting Keene State College Owls on Saturday afternoon in Little East Conference action at the Hill Gym.

Currently ranked number-two in the latest D3Hoops.com poll, Southern Maine extended its current winning streak to 17 games and improved to 20-1 overall and 10-0 in the league. In addition, the Huskies improved their own NCAA Division III record of consecutive 20-win season to 24. Southern Maine has won a minimum of 20 games every year since the 1980-81 campaign.

Keene State, which has now lost two straight and seven-of-eight, fell to 8-12 overall and 3-7 in the league. The teams return to action on Tuesday, when Keene State entertains in-state rival Plymouth State, while Southern Maine will host UMass Boston.

Southern Maine opened the second half with an 11-2 run to build a commanding 49-32 lead with 15:56 remaining. The Owls pulled to within 49-35 on a three-pointer from sophomore Megan Lane (Hawthorne, N.J.) on their ensuing possession, but they would pull no closer.

A single free throw from freshman Katie Sibley (Boothbay, Maine) capped a 27-8 run and gave the Huskies their largest lead at 76-43 with 5:34 remaining. The Owls halted the run with a three-pointer from sophomore Bekka Hopkins (Oxford, Mass.) to pull within 76-46 with 4:52 remaining. It marked just the third field goal for Keene State over a stretch of 9:58.

The Owls would trim the deficit no further than 81-57 on a single free throw from freshman Tara Wagner (Avon, Conn.) with 36 seconds to play. A pair of foul shots from Southern Maine freshman Lindsey Welch (Newport, Maine) with 26 seconds to play accounted for the final score. 

The Huskies never trailed but the score was tied on three occasions. The Owls forced the final tie at 17-17 on a short jumper from sophomore Brittany Faulkner (Lebanon, N.H.) with 10:02 remaining in the first half. However, Southern Maine answered with a 17-4 run, capped by a lay up from Marble to grab a 34-21 edge with 5:16 to play.

The Huskies took their largest lead of the first half at 38-24 with 1:55 remaining, but the Owls scored the final six points to close within 38-30 at the break.
 Marble, who was a perfect 10-10 from the foul line, was joined in double figures in points by sophomore Tiffany Jones (Skowhegan, Maine), who added 18 points, and senior Jen Webster (Braintree, Mass.), who contributed 11 points.

The Owls were paced by Hopkins, who drained four three pointers to finish with a team-high 17 points, while Lane, senior Andrea Arsenault (Dover, N.H) and freshman Sarah Begnoche (Millville, Mass.) added seven points apiece.

(Courtesy USM Sports Information Office)