DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves played the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 28-all tie in the first half but the Huskies scored 20 points in the third quarter to vault themselves to a 64-51 win over WestConn in Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball action this afternoon at Feldman Arena in the O'Neill Center.  WestConn drops to 4-10 overall and 2-3 in the LEC with its fifth setback in a row, while the Huskies improve to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in the league with their third straight win.  Freshmen Nia Rencher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) led the Wolves with 13 points.  WestConn will return to action on Tuesday with a road game at LEC rival Rhode Island College at 5:30 p.m.

Trailing, 15-8, after one quarter, WestConn found itself down by double digits early on a three-pointer by Husky guard Liz Cote that made the score, 23-11, less than two minutes into the second frame.  The Wolves closed the first half with a 9-1 run and tied the game with 1:14 on the clock thanks to a layup by freshman C Fatmata Barrie (Staten Island, N.Y.).  The game remained tight over the first eight minutes of the third quarter before Southern Maine scored eight of the final nine points before the final break to lead, 48-40, heading into the final stanza.

Rencher scored two buckets early in the fourth quarter to keep WestConn close at 50-44 with six minutes remaining.  An 8-0 Husky run pushed the visitors lead back to double digits moments later and Southern Maine maintained its healthy advantage the rest of the way.  Rencher was stellar all around, totaling eight points, five assists, five steals, and two blocks in addition to her team-high 13 points.  Fellow rookie Gianna Castellano (East Haven, Conn.) added 11 points and four assists, while Barrie and senior forward Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) paced the Wolves with six rebounds apiece.  Dakota Shipley and Lucy Wiles scored 19 points each, while Shipley also had 10 rebounds and Emma Stred collected a game-high 16 boards for the Huskies.