Sarah Barton '08 led the Bobcats with 13 points, five assists and six rebounds.

GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Stacey Kent (Northwood, N.H.) scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 76-57 win over in-state rival Bates College Tuesday night at Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.

With the win, Southern Maine upped its record to 3-0 on the season and earns its 70th straight win at home. Playing in their first game of the season, Bates stands at 0-1.

Kent was an outstanding 8-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range to lead all scorers. Freshman guard Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) pumped in a career-high 16 points on a 6-for-9 effort from the field, including a 13-point scoring spurt in the second half to help USM put the game out of reach for Bates. Senior forward Josalee Danieli (New Gloucester, Maine) and sophomore guard Nicole Paradis (Skowhegan, Maine) each scored eight points for USM, while Danieli added a team-high eight rebounds.

Senior guard Sarah Barton (Portsmouth, N.H.) led Bates with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore forward Lauren Yanofsky (Belmont, Mass.) added 10 points and junior forward Val Beckwith (Woburn, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds. First-year forward Jessie Igoe (Lexington, Mass.) added six points and three rebounds, while first-year guard Maggie DePoy (Chicago, Ill.) connected on a pair of three-pointers in the first half for six points.

Leading by a narrow three-point margin, 39-36, with 18:48 showing on the clock, the Huskies used a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to pull away from the Bobcats. DeMillo keyed the pivotal run scoring 13 unanswered points on three lay-ups, two three-pointers and a free throw. Kent closed the run with a driving baseline lay-up to give USM a 54-38 lead with 12:42 remaining.

Bates cut the USM advantage to 10 twice over the next four minutes but was unable to close the gap any further. Barton drained her only three-pointer of the night with 8:50 to play for a 59-49 Southern Maine advantage, but Kent answered right back for the Huskies with a three of her own to return the lead to 13 on the next play.

Southern Maine shot a solid 46.7 percent (28-for-60) from the floor and was 40.9 percent from three-point range (9-for-22). Bates struggled from the field, connecting on 22 of its 67 attempts for a 32.8 field goal percentage. In the second half, Bates made just 25 percent from the field (8-for-32).

Bates hosts Husson College on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday Nov. 27 when it hosts nationally-ranked in-state rival Bowdoin College at 6 p.m.

-- University of Southern Maine Sports Information

BOX SCORE: Southern Maine 76, Bates 57