BRUNSWICK — There have been some storied women’s basketball games between Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine.

Tuesday night was not one of them.

Bowdoin's Lauren Petit tries to drive past Southern Maine's Mychaela Harton during the Polar Bears' 85-40 win Tuesday in Brunswick. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Bowdoin finished the first quarter with a 14-0 run and just kept going, routing the Huskies 85-40 at Morrell Gymnasium.

Bowdoin (4-0) is a national power, ranked 14th in the latest WBCA Division III poll. USM (1-5) is rebuilding with no seniors and seven freshmen. The contrast was evident, and Bowdoin enjoyed its most lopsided victory over the Huskies.

“I think we’re looking to get used to each other,” USM Coach Samantha Allen said. “It’s a whole new team. We’re just trying to get organized.

“It’s good to go against a team like Bowdoin. This has always been a fun nonconference game – maybe not-so-fun today.”

These two programs have tussled often. USM leads the series 31-17, although the Polar Bears have won 14 of the last 21 meetings. USM last won in the fall of 2012. They have faced off four times in the NCAA tournament, the latest in 2012, a Bowdoin victory.

The Polar Bears appear headed for another NCAA berth. If so, it will be their 16th in the last 17 years.

“It’s a super special team this year,” said starting senior guard Sydney Hancock from Casco and Lake Region High. “I’m really excited.”

The Bowdoin roster numbers 16. Everyone played Tuesday. Reserve forward Ally Silfen led with 12 points, one of the five Polar Bears in double figures. No one played more than 18 minutes, no one less than six.

“Our depth is one of our huge strengths,” Hancock said. “We can keep bringing in fresh bodies. We don’t have any drop-off when our subs come in.”

Bowdoin Coach Adrienne Shibles, in her ninth year, agrees.

“I think (the depth) will become more critical as we get into the season,” Shibles said. “Foul trouble is something I worried a lot about in the past. Now it’s next person (in). It’s a great strength we have.”

And that depth is loaded with local talent. Bowdoin actually has more Mainers (seven) than USM (five).

“I love having a contingent of Mainers,” Shibles said.

Besides Hancock, two other starters are from Maine – junior forward Lydia Caputi (Brunswick) and sophomore center Cordelia Stewart (Bangor).

Coming off the bench are senior center Emily Campbell (York), junior guard Hannah Cooke (Portland), sophomore guard Hannah Graham (Presque Isle) and freshman forward Maddie Hasson (South Portland).

Stewart and Hasson both scored 10 points. Hasson, 5-foot-11, is averaging eight points a game.

“It’s definitely a big adjustment, a lot faster, a lot more physical,” Hasson said. “But it’s been a good adjustment with the help of the team and some hard practices.

“Competing against each other has made the games a lot easier.”

Bowdoin has cruised so far, averaging 88 points. Junior guard Kate Kerrigan, who had three 3-pointers Tuesday, leads with a 10.5 average.

The last two Bowdoin teams have totaled 47 wins, reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 both times. Is this team better?

“They’re hard to compare,” Hancock said. “I’m excited to see where we go.”

How Bowdoin fares in its conference will be a good benchmark. The NESCAC features the nation’s top two ranked teams, Tufts and Amherst.

USM, meanwhile, opens Little East Conference play Saturday against Eastern Connecticut.

“This year is mostly about figuring out our identity,” Allen said. “They’re a fantastic group … they have moments of brilliance and moments we definitely need to work on.”

Junior Emily Nicholson and freshman Mychaela Harton led USM with seven points apiece.

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