Same story, different year

Stacey Kent has emerged as the newest marquee player for the University of Southern Maine women’s basketball program. But those consistent contributions from the next wave of players – Josalee Danieli of New Gloucester and Kaylie DeMillo of Jay, for example – are the reason the Huskies have won 77 consecutive home games at Hill Gymnasium.

DeMillo scored 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half of Saturday’s 68-56 victory over Western Connecticut State. The freshman scored 10 consecutive points during one stretch, and she was a steady 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

For averaging 11.5 points in two triumphs, DeMillo was named Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association rookie of the week for the second time this winter. She is tied for fifth among the Huskies with 6.7 points per game while playing just under 17 minutes per night.

Danieli shone earlier in the week with a team-high 15 points against her former school, Rhode Island College, in a 77-50 victory. The senior forward transferred to USM for her senior campaign.

With the weekend victory, Southern Maine gained bragging rights over Bowdoin by topping the Polar Bears’ recent home winning streak of 76 games. USM’s current streak trails only Rust (88) and William Smith (80) on the all-time Division III list.

Just perfect

One of the top NCAA Division III women’s hockey teams in the nation is benefiting from a pair of versatile Hebron Academy graduates.

Sophomore Daniella Lyons of Greene has produced a pair of goals and seven assists in 14 games for the Hawks this winter, including one power-play goal. Lyons registered four goals and 13 assists last season.

Greenville native Cindy Lebel, a senior on defense, has complemented her skills along the blue line with four goals (for a career total of 36) and seven assists.

Most importantly, Saint Anselm is a spotless 14-0 after its 4-1 home win Saturday over Southern Maine.

Take a load off

Cassandra Kirkland of Greene christened her final indoor season with the Bates College track-and-field team by embellishing her credentials as one of the school’s all-time throwers.

Kirkland topped the 20-pound weight throw Saturday in a four-team invitational at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Leavitt Area High School graduate extended her personal record to 14.89 meters, advancing to fourth on Bates’ historical honor roll and qualifying for the ECAC Championships.

Bates finished second in the meet.

Quiet storm

Eleven different players have started at least one women’s basketball game this season for the University of New England, and two of them are juniors with strong local ties.

Annie Foster of South Paris (Oxford Hills) is averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Nor’easters, adding a dozen steals to the defensive mix. Brooke Weston of Dixfield (Dirigo) checks in with 3.1 points per contest and 11 thefts.

UNE is 7-8 after a 55-53 loss to Salve Regina in Commonwealth Coast Conference action over the weekend.