Senior forward Liz Wood (#31, in white), shown here in an earlier game this season against Vermont, played her final game for the Maine Black Bears on Friday night in a NIT loss to Quinnipiac. Photo by Anthony Delmonaco.
HAMDEN, CONN- The Quinnipiac womens basketball team shot a sizzling 60 percent from the field and 70 percent in the second half Friday night as they cruised past the Maine Black Bears 90-44 in a NIT game played at the TD Bank Sports Center.
The 46 point loss was the worse loss for Maine since a 55 point setback to Syracuse back in 2013. Maine entered the game as the third best defensive team in the NCAA, allowing only 50 points per contest.
Sigi Koizar once again shined for Maine. Koizar scored 19 of her game high 23 points in the second half but it wouldn’t be enough to rally the Black Bears. Quinnipiac shot 53 percent in the first half including seven three-pointers outscoring Maine 26-5 in the second quarter to build a 45-15 halftime lead. The Bobcats nailed 11 three-pointers in the game out of 23 attempts and shot 38-63 from the floor. Maine was 3 for 20 from three-point land and shot only 29 percent overall from the floor (17-59). Maine allowed 65+ points for only the second time this season since a loss to Minnesota in the non conference portion of the schedule.
Quinnipiac, now 25-8, was led by Paula Strautmane who had 21 points on 10-10 shooting with nine rebounds. Adily Martucci had 18 points, while Sarah Shewan had a double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Edel Thornton also got into double digits with 10 points. Quinnipiac will now play Temple in a second round NIT game.
Maine ends the season with the second most wins in program history at 26-9. Liz Wood finished her career with seven points and six rebounds and Bella Swan added five points. Mikaela Gustaffson, Anna Heise, Lauren Bodine, Chantel Charles, Sophie Weckstrom, and Milica Mitrovic also end their UMaine careers.
UME 10 5 18 11- 44
QUI 19 26 18 27- 90
FG % Maine 17-59 (28.8%) Quinnipiac 38-63 (60.3%)
Free throws- Maine 7-9 (77.8%) Quinnipiac 3-6 (50.0%)
Rebounds- Maine 31 Quinnipiac 39
Turnovers- Maine 16 Quinnipiac 10
Points off turnovers- Maine 7 Quinnipiac 27
