BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College women's basketball team used a stellar defensive effort to defeat the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday evening, 56-39. The 15^th-ranked Polar Bears improve to 13-1 while Southern Maine drops to 6-8 overall.
 
Game Highlights

• Bowdoin never trailed in the contest, scoring the first seven points of the game and leading 16-10 after one quarter.
• The Polar Bears held a 30-23 at the break with USM staying within striking distance thanks in great part to an 11-11 effort from the free throw line.
• Bowdoin created some breathing room in a 15-8 third quarter as Sydney Jones scored seven points to push the Polar Bear lead to double digits.
• USM was able to trim the lead to eight points, 45-37, with 6:50 to go, but Bowdoin answered with a decisive 8-0 run, as Jones scored six straight points to put the contest out of reach.

By The Numbers

• Bowdoin only shot 31% for the game but held USM to 19% from the field and just 11 made field goals in the contest.
• Sydney Jones finished with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds with five steals, four assists and a block.
• Megan Tan added 11 points and three steals for the Polar Bears, who got nine points and six boards from Abbie Quinn and six points, four steals and three blocks from Maria Belardi.
• The Polar Bears forced 21 turnovers, had 13 steals, and won the rebounding battle by a 48-40 margin.
• Bowdoin has won ten straight against their in-state foes, dating back to 2013, and is 20-6 against the Huskies dating back to 2001.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will return to NESCAC action on Friday at Middlebury for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off against the Panthers.