LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior Brianna Gadaleta scored 11 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, as the Bates women's basketball team pulled away from a 49-49 tie after three quarters to defeat the University of Southern Maine 72-62 Tuesday evening in Alumni Gym.

Junior Meghan Graff (South Portland, Maine) led the Bobcats (3-1) with 18 points to go with four assists, and senior Mia Roy (Bedford, N.H.) contributed 13 points, five assists and four rebounds in the winning effort. Gadaleta shot 7-10 from the field, including 5-6 in the fourth quarter, and she added eight rebounds and a pair of assists as she continued her exceptional start to the season. The 6-foot forward is averaging 16.5 points and shooting .651 from the field through four games.

Senior Ariana Dalia (Brick, N.J.) led a big defensive effort for the Bobcats and finished with eight points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists. Dalia also played a key role in the fourth quarter, tallying six points on 3-3 shooting with five rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.

Amy Fleming scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds for the visiting Huskies (1-4). Victoria Harris posted 11 points and nine rebounds, and Franny Ramsdell scored 10 points with five rebounds. Maria Degifico tallied five assists off the bench for USM.

Bates held USM to 4-19 shooting (.211) in the fourth quarter while making 10-17 shots (.588) for itself in the period. For the game, the Huskies shot 25-77 from the field (.325), including 2-11 from three (.182). Bates shot 31-72 from the floor (.431), but made only 1-12 from three (.083) and 9-17 from the free-throw line (.529).

Gadaleta converted two baskets underneath in the first minute of the fourth quarter for a 53-49 Bates lead that the Bobcats never relinquished. After Ramsdell answered with a layup to close it to 53-51, the Bobcats went on a 12-4 run to open up a 65-55 lead with 3:55 left in the game. Dalia and Gadaleta had two baskets apiece in the decisive run, and Dalia made the key defensive play of the game, blocking a Ramsdell shot underneath and corralling the rebound. USM cut the deficit to as low as six points on a layup by Fleming with 1:04 to go, but a pair of free throws by Graff and a layup by Roy in the final minute sealed the victory.

The Bobcats started the game hot and at a frenetic pace, grabbing a 17-7 lead before five minutes had elapsed, with Graff scoring six quick points and Roy adding five. USM's Ashlee Aceto answered with a 3-pointer, and the Huskies ended the period on an 11-3 run of their own, cutting the gap to 20-18 after 10 minutes. 

The Huskies tied the game up at 22-22 early in the second quarter, and the teams played evenly to the break, with three ties and two lead changes.

Fleming erupted for 11 points in the third quarter, making 5-of-8 shots in the period and grabbing three rebounds. Bates sophomore Morgan Kennedy (Oklahoma City) scored all nine of her points in the quarter, helping the Bobcats keep the score knotted through three periods at 49-49.

Bates will return to action Sunday afternoon at 3pm, hosting Maine Maritime Academy. Southern Maine will host Saint Joseph's on Sunday at 5:30.