DANBURY, Conn. - Despite a team-high 13 from points from senior center Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) and game-highs 11 rebounds and four assists from classmate guard Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.), the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team suffered a 56-49 setback against the visiting University of Southern Maine in a Little East Conference tilt on Saturday afternoon at Feldman Arena.

Three players netted double figures for the Huskies. Sophomore guard Vanessa Vaughan (Hantsport, Nova Scotia) poured in a game-high 16, while senior guard Liz Cote (Conway, N.H.) and classmate guard Amy Fleming (Berwick, ME) chipped in with 11 and 10, respectively. Vaughan also contributed a game-high five steals.

The Wolves dominated the glass by a 40-27 margin but had a difficult day holding onto the ball. They accumulated 26 turnovers while the visitors coughed the ball up just 12 times. Southern Maine utilized their deep bench which outscored the WestConn reserves, 26-8. 

WestCame started the game shooting a scorching 57 percent (8-of-14) from the field in the first quarter. Junior guard Nicole Peralta (North Windham, Conn.) rounded out the opening stanza with a three-point heave just beyond half court that swished home at the buzzer, giving the hosts a 17-15 lead. 

The Huskies answered with a 13-5 run in the second stanza to regain a 33-30 advantage when junior guard Tamrah Gould (Manchester, N.H.) converted a layup just before halftime.

The lead changed hands several occasions in the third. Wolves senior guard Maggie Nardini (Sandwich, Mass.) buried a trifecta, closing the gap to 45-43 heading into the fourth. However, Southern Maine would control play the rest of the way, outscoring the hosts 11-6 in the final period.

With the loss, WestConn dropped to 6-16 overall and 2-11 in league play, while the Huskies improved to 10-12 and 8-5. The Wolves return to action for an LEC matchup at Rhode Island College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.