Tanesha Sutton recorded a career high 16 points to help lead the University of Maine Womens basketball team to a 61-48 win over East Tennessee State on Monday afternoon at the Miami Holiday Classic Tournament at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
Maine (7-5) started quickly and built a 13-2 early first quarter lead, and held a 13 point advantage at halftime 35-22.
An 11-0 run by the Buccaneers of ETSU in the third quarter cut the Black Bear lead down to 40-36. Maine led by seven at 45-38 headed into the final 10 minutes.
ETSU cut the lead down to four once again at 45-41, before Maine went on a 10-3 run to build the lead back to double digits at 55-44, spearheaded by a Sigi Koizar basket and three buckets from Sutton. ETSU never got closer than nine the rest of the way as Maine won their fourth straight game.
Sutton also had six rebounds and three assists to go along with the game high 16 points. Koizar had 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Anita Kelava also chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Maine shot 46 percent from the floor in the game.
Carley Lytton led East Tennessee State with 12 points and four rebounds, while Tianna Tartar also had 12 to go along with five rebounds and five assists. The Buccaneers fall to 6-7, and shot only 29 percent from the floor in the loss and had 20 turnovers.
Maine will play #11 Miami (10-1), who won Mondays second game over Coppin State 75-35, in the Miami Holiday Classic title game at 5 p.m. Tuesday. ETSU will face Coppin St. in the third place game at 3 p.m.
ETSU (6-7) 9 13 16 10- 48
UME (7-5) 19 16 10 16- 61
Field goals/Pct- ETSU 15-52, 28.8% Maine 26-57, 45.6%
Three point/Pct- ETSU 5-18, 27.8% Maine 6-24, 25%
Free throw/Pct- ETSU 13-16, 81.2% Maine 3-7, 42.9%
Turnovers- ETSU 20 Maine 13