BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team rode a hot-shooting first half to a 65-44 victory over the University of Southern Maine on Wednesday evening at Morrell Gymnasium. 

The 21-point margin of victory is the largest ever for the Polar Bears (5-2) in their 40-year history against the Huskies (3-3).

Sara Binkhorst had a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds and four assists for Bowdoin. Shannon Brady added 16 points, seven boards and four blocks for the Polar Bears while Marle Curle pitched in 15 points. Megan Pelletier had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead Southern Maine. Rebecca Knight also saw double figures with 10 points for the Huskies. 

Bowdoin hit nine of their first ten shots from the field and connected on 64% for the opening period, blowing open a tight game and quickly building a double-digit lead. Meanwhile, the Polar Bear defense held the Huskies to just one field goal over the final 6:40 of the first half and held a 43-23 edge at intermission.

USM scored the first five points of the second half, looking to get back into the contest. But Bowdoin replied with a 12-2 run to increase its lead to 55-30 following a Binkhorst hoop-and-harm with 13:19 to go. The Polar Bears would lead by as many as 26 points in the second half en route to the win.

Bowdoin finished at 46% shooting for the contest and held a 40-36 edge in rebounding. The Polar Bears scored 23 points off 17 USM turnovers and scored 32 points in the paint in the victory.

The Polar Bears will return to action at Colby on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Southern Maine will travel to play at Western Connecticut at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.