Big first half propels SMCC past NHTI

AUBURN, Maine - A strong first half propelled fourth-seeded Southern Maine Community College past number five seed NHTI 95-66 Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Yankee Small College Conference Elite Eight Championships hosted by Central Maine Community College. SMCC advances to take on number one seed College of Saint Joseph's (Vermont), who defeated Maine-Mathias earlier in the day. 

The Seawolves jumped out to an early 24-13 first quarter lead, shooting 50% from the field as eight different players scored. SMCC continued with the hot hand in the second period, out-scoring the Lynx 25-12. Amira Jones (Chicopee, Mass.) and Maria Veino (Sanford, Maine) combined for 17 of those 25 points in the second quarter alone. 

NHTI refused to go away however, and battled back with a strong third quarter, out-scoring the Seawolves 27-26 led by six points from Melissa Martel (Derry, N.H.) and 75% shooting from the field as a team. 

Jones led the Seawolves on the day with a game-high 19 points and five steals while Veino and Alicia Hoyt (Steep Falls, Maine) each netted 16 points. Veino was a monster on the boards, with a game-high 18 rebounds. Vanessa Barnes (Jay, Maine) was also in double-digits for SMCC, scoring ten points. 

The Lynx were led by Ripely Deoleo (Manchester, N.H.) with 18 points but had a very balanced attack with all ten NHTI players scoring. Deoleo led her team with ten rebounds and dished out a pair of assists. Teammates Danielle Kimball (Derry, N.H.) and Martel each scored nine points while Kimball registered three assists. 

The Seawolves will face off against the College of Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon with a noon start at Central Maine Community College.