Members of the University of Maine Women’s basketball team shown above in a game earlier this season, would host the visiting UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in Bangor Wednesday night.
BANGOR- The University of Maine Black Bears women’s basketball team is getting just what they expected from Bella Swan. The senior who was coming off a career high for points in last Saturday’s win over UMBC, registered another new high for the season in leading Maine to a 74-44 America East victory over visiting UMass-Lowell at the Cross Insurance Center Wednesday night. The win is also the 13th straight at home for the Bears.
Maine, now 12-6 and 3-0 in America East, would start quite slowly. The Bears shot a dismal 3 for 14 from the field in the opening quarter and trailed after the opening 10 minutes by a score of 11-7.
Maine would quickly that around in the second quarter with a strong 7 for 13 shooting performance and went on a 18-0 run to take a commanding 25-11 lead. UMass-Lowell would go on a short run of 5-0 to cut the lead to 9 but Maine ended on another 6-0 spurt to end the first half up 31-16.
Maine would open the third period on a 10-0 run to put the game away. The run was part of a 34-5 Black Bear surge from the end of the first quarter that allowed them to turn a 4 point deficit into a 25 point advantage. Maine would lead by as many as 36 with just over 3 minutes to play in the contest.
Swan, coming off the 16 point performance Saturday against UMBC, would finish with a new career high 19 points to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Mikaela Gustaffson added 12 points and 7 rebounds and Sigi Koizar recorded double digits in scoring for the 16th time in 18 games with 11 points, 5 assists and 5 steals.
UMass-Lowell, who falls to 3-12 and 0-3 in the conference, they were led Nicole Hayner who had 13 points, 2 assists and 3 steals. Katherine Smith and Lindsey Doucette each scored 10 points each.
Overall Maine shot 47% from the floor after the tough start (28-59), dished out 22 assists and had 15 steals and also converted 12 for 13 at the foul line. Lowell only shot 37% (16-43) for the game but turned the ball over 22 times allowing 26 Maine points. Lowell was perfect from the charity stripe on the evening (9-9). Maine was 6-16 from behind the three point line and Lowell was 3-9.
Maine will travel to play the four time defending America East champion Albany in Albany, NY on Saturday afternoon at 12 noon. The game can be seen live on ESPN 3 as the two conference preseason favorites go head to head for the first time this year.
UML 11 5 10 18-44
Maine 7 24 22 21- 74
