Despite an off shooting day, the Maine Black Bears put three players in double figures Saturday afternoon to get past the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers 58-45 in America East women’s basketball action at the UMBC Events Center in Catonsville, Maryland.
Maine (17-7, 10-1 America East) came out fast taking as much as a 12 point first quarter lead and led 17-10 after the first quarter. The Bears though cooled off and scored just four points the final 6:54 of the first half, but still held a 26-22 lead at the break.
The visitors never did let the Retrievers garner the lead in the game, leading by seven after three quarters and pulling away for the final margin of 13 which was the biggest lead of the contest. Maine did so without a field goal over the final 6:26 of play, converting 7-8 from the foul line in the last 2:31 to pick up the win. Maine shot just 35 percent from the floor, compared to 43 percent for UMBC. The Black Bears took advantage of 29 turnovers by the hosts turning that into 24 points, and also converted 15-21 from the line to win their sixth straight game.
Blanca Millan led Maine with 14 points, 12 in the second half. Millan added four rebounds and five steals. Parise Rossignol had 12 points despite just 3-11 shooting from the field. Fanny Wadling also chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Janee’a Summers had 10 points and six rebounds for UMBC, while Te’yjah Oliver also had 10 points and five rebounds. The Retrievers drop to 8-17, 1-9.
Maine will return home for their biggest regular season game on Wednesday night when they host the Hartford Hawks at 7 pm. The game will be for first place in the America East, as both teams are 10-1.
