WATERVILLE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball team earned a 53–40 victory over Thomas College in North Atlantic Conference action on Saturday.

Maine Maritime (4-1, 4-0 NAC) rode a strong defensive effort to a key conference win despite shooting 34.4 percent from the floor and 12 percent from 3-point range.

Thomas (6-4, 3-2 NAC) led 16–13 after the opening quarter and carried a 21–17 advantage into halftime after edging the Mariners 5–4 in the second period.

The Mariners emerged from the break with new energy, pouring in 21 points in the third quarter while holding Thomas to 17. MMA then nearly shut out the Terriers in the fourth, dominating the final frame 15–2 to complete the 53–40 comeback.

Junior Hailey Blanchard led all scorers with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double, while senior Evelyn Dagan added 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior Sydney Loring finished with six points and eight rebounds, and freshmen Savannah Ferguson and Aliyah Lambo chipped in six points apiece.

Maine Maritime's defense shined throughout, holding Thomas to 24.6 percent shooting and just 19 percent from beyond the arc. The Mariners also limited the Terriers to only four second-chance points and 18 points in the paint.

Maine Maritime returns home Friday to host Bowdoin College, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.