WATERVILLE -- "Gutted" is probably too strong a word, but the Colby College women's basketball team had some valid excuses for playing at less than peak performance Tuesday night against Maine Maritime Academy.

Colby spent the weekend at the Red Hawk/Pioneer Classic in New Jersey, winning one game in overtime, losing another on a basket with three seconds left and getting back to Waterville in the early hours of Monday morning. The weariness showed against MMA, but Colby's defense and clutch play helped the Mules hold on for a 52-47 victory.

"I'm not pleased, necessarily, with the performance," Colby coach Lori Gear McBride said, "but I'm also aware that we were pretty tired. We were lucky to get the win tonight, so we'll take it."

McBride started out with a full-court press, but had to back off once she realized how tired her players were. Thirteen different players saw action for the Mules, led by Julianne Kowalski (14 points, 11 rebounds in 26 minutes) and freshman Rachael Mack of Augusta (12 points, nine rebounds).

The 6-foot-1 Mack, in particular, was a big reason the Mules held MMA to 27 percent shooting on the night. Mack blocked four shots and now has 14 in five games.

"She is our best post defender," McBride said. "She doesn't try to out-physical anyone. She's just always moving and always working. She's just adds so much. She's always there to stop the penetration, and smart enough and disciplined enough that she doesn't foul. She is unbelievable."

Despite not having a free throw attempt until the final 12 minutes of the game, Colby led 26-23 at halftime. The Mariners, led by Nokomis grad Tatum Welch (14 points, 13 rebounds), forged ahead, 34-30, as Colby scored only four points in the first nine minutes of the second half.

But MMA struggled with the lead, and couldn't hold on to the momentum. In a stretch of three possessions, the Mariners missed two layups and threw the ball away on a 2-on-1 break. Colby eventually went ahead 35-34 on a three-point play by Kowalski.

After Colby extended its lead to 47-40, the Mariners hustled their way back within three points, but a basket and three foul shots by Kowalski in the final 70 seconds sealed the win.

Colby is now 4-1, and did not win its fourth game last season until Jan. 26. The Mules have two more games this week before the semester break, and if they win either of them, they will have won five games in December for the first time since 2002. That team ended up 18-7.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com