Maine guard Tanesha Sutton (pink) goes up for a shot during action at the Cross Insurance Center on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 against Hartford. Maine won 78-58. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco (click to enlarge)
BANGOR, Me- Tanesha Sutton led all scorers with a game high 24 points Wednesday night, and three other starters scored in double figures as the Maine Black Bears raced past the Hartford Hawks 78-58 at the Cross Insurance Center on Senior Night. The win gives Maine sole possession of first place in America East over Hartford.
The Bears played a solid first half, leading by seven in the first quarter and by six after the opening 10 minutes, and only trailing twice in the first minute of action. More of the same in the second quarter, and the Black Bears took a 35-28 lead into halftime. Maine (18-7, 11-1 America East) used a 12-4 run to open the third quarter to open the lead up to 47-32. Hartford shaved five off that lead before the end of the quarter as the hosts led 55-45. Maine finally opened it way up in the final quarter, as a 13-3 run led by a pair of three pointers from Parise Rossignol and one by Dor Saar made it 68-48, the biggest lead to that point. The Bears would widen that margin to 24 later in winning their seventh straight game.
Sutton and Rossignol were both honored before the game as the only two seniors on the team. The Bears also wore pink uniforms in the annual Play4Kay game, that were auctioned off to help raise money to help fight and raise awareness for breast cancer.
Parise Rossignol rises up to attempt a three pointer during America East action against Hartford in Bangor on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco (click to enlarge)
Sutton added nine rebounds to her point total, shooting 9-14 from the floor and also 6-7 from the foul line. Saar added 19 points on 6-9 shooting (4-7 three pointers), and also adding six assists. Rossignol had 18 points on 6-9 from three point range, adding six rebounds. Blanca Millan also added 15 points. Maine shot 51 percent from the floor, and also 42 percent from behind the three point arc (11-26). Lindsey Abed had 15 points and five rebounds to lead Hartford (16-9, 9-2). Alexia Douglas had 14 points, while Sierra Decosta added 12 points. The Hawks shot 40 percent, and only 27 percent from the arc (4-15).
Maine travels to Albany to battle the Great Danes Saturday at 2 p.m.
