(Concord, N.H.)- No. 3 SUNY Canton provided the first upset in the Sunrise Conference basketball championships as they upended No. 2 University of Maine at Presque Isle 63-51 Saturday at New Hampshire Technical Institute. The Roos improved to 12-12 overall and will face No. 1 University of Maine at Fort Kent in the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SUNY Canton avenged two regular season losses to the Owls and fill face Fort Kent in the title game for the second time in the last three years.
The Roos pulled out the win on Saturday by out scoring Presque Isle 19-2 over the final seven minutes of the game.
The Owls went ahead 49-44 with 7:40 on the clock and then
Emily Bush (Heuvelton, N.Y.) scored on a driving layup that ignited the remarkable run.
During that stetch SUNY Canton upped their defensive pressure, forced several turnovers, drew three offensive fouls and controlled the boards on both ends. For the game SUNY Canton out rebounded the Owls 52-31 and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to just 10 for Presque Isle. SUNY Canton converted those offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points and SUNY Canton's bench outscored the Owls 30-8.
One of those players off the bench for SUNY Canton was
Heather Lottie (Canton, N.Y.) who scored seven of her game-high 15 points during that closing run. Lottie also had nine rebounds, six offensive, and two steals.
Brittany Kenyon (Hammond, N.Y.) went 6-for-8 from the free throw line and had 13 points despite playing with foul trouble.
Julie Vander Wiel (Malone, N.Y.) added 11 points and eight boards.
Jackie Sedlacek (Endicott, N.Y.) had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds and Bush and
Kirsten Morley (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) had four points apiece.
Emily Pelletier and Julie Peers each had 14 points to lead the Owls. Megan Korhonen added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.