Presque Isle, ME - The University of Maine at Presque Isle extended their lead in every quarter, pulling away for an 80-58 North Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Northern Vermont University-Lyndon on Friday evening.  UMPI improves to 11-9 overall and evens their record at 6-6 in NAC play.  Lyndon falls to 9-10 on the season and 3-8 in conference.

The two teams battled back and forth in the early minutes.  There were seven lead changes in the first four minutes.  The Owls' Emily Wheaton converted two free throws to give the hosts an 8-7 lead, a lead that they would never relinquish.  The Owls extended their advantage to as much as eight points, before the Hornets got back to within three points following a Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, NH) basket in the final seconds of the quarter.

UMPI opened the second quarter on a 14-3 run, extending their lead to 34-20 after a Paige Espling layup just over five minutes into the period.  Lyndon rallied with a 7-0 run capped by a pair of Crompton free throws.  The two teams then played on even terms in the final minutes of the half and UMPI headed into intermission with a 40-32 lead.

The Owls broke the game open with a big third quarter.  UMPI outscored Lyndon 23-11 in the frame, with Espling scoring 10 of her 15 points in the frame.  The Hornets never threatened in the final quarter, as the Owls cruised to the victory.

Espling, Wheaton, and Alexis Ireland paced UMPI with 15 points each.  Ireland and Espling completed double doubles by pulling down 16 and 11 rebounds respectively.  Hunter Mercier was UMPI's fourth double figure scorer, as she finished the night with 11 points.

Crompton had 20 points and eight assists to lead Lyndon.  Faith Poirier (Portsmouth, NH) was the only other Hornet in double figures, as she tallied 10 points.  Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) pulled down a team best nine rebounds.

The Owls made 29 of 67 shots (43.3%), including five of 16 (31.3%) from behind the three-point arc.  The Hornets only connected on 21 of their 62 attempts (33.9%), and a frigid one of 13 (7.7%) from distance.  UMPI also held a commanding 47-29 rebounding advantage.

The Hornets and Owls will square off again on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm to close out the regular season.