DANBURY, Conn. - Junior guard Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.) scored a game-high 13 points and the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team defeated visiting University of Southern Maine, 48-39 at Feldman Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Katelyn Fanning (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) and Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) added nine points apiece for the Wolves, which improve to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in the Little East Conference.  Fanning hauled down a game-high 10 boards today.

The Huskies, now 4-10 overall and 2-5 in the league, were led by Vanessa Vaughn and Maria Degifico who scored 12 and 10 points respectively on Saturday.  Ashlee Aceto tagged on nine points and gathered a team-high seven rebounds for USM.

With both teams affixed in play-off mode with smaller rotations, just seven reserves, three for WestConn and four for the Huskies, saw action.  The Wolves finished with an 8-2 advantage in bench points.

Southern Maine raced out to an 8-2 advantage one minutes into the game when Aceto converted on a short jumper in the lane.

A lay up from Vivian with 2:00 remaining the first stanza, drew WestConn even at 12-12 and capped off a 10-2 run.  The Wolves then went on to score the first seven points of the second period to lead 19-12 following a jumper from Franks at the 5:59 mark.

After a deadlock at 19-19, in the closing seconds before intermission, WestConn scored the final four points of the first half and took a 23-19 lead into the locker room. 

The Huskies would not get closer than six points the rest of the way.  Vaughan canned a pair of free throws with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter to draw Southern Maine that close, 42-36.

The Wolves travel to cross-state rival Eastern Connecticut State University for the Nutmeg Derby on Wednesday, January 18.  Game time against the Warriors is set for 5:00 pm in Willimantic.

USM plays host to University of Massachusetts Boston on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.