BANGOR, Maine- Maddy McVicar scored a game high and career high 25 points on Wednesday night as the Maine Black Bears built a 25 point first half lead and never looked back downing the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks 77-53 in America East women’s basketball action at the Cross Insurance Center.
Maine (12-14, 8-4 America East) started out red hot to build an early advantage. With the score 8-5 Black Bears, the hosts ran off 14 straight points on back to back three-pointers from McVicar and then by Dor Saar to take a commanding 22-5 lead. It was 22-9 after the opening 10 minutes. The shooting continued for Maine in the second quarter after the Riverhawks cut it to 11, McVicar nailed three more from downtown and Kelly Fogarty and Saar again got in on the action as the lead grew to 42-17. It was 42-22 at the break as the Black Bears hit 10-19 from the arc in the first 20 minutes.
UML (12-13, 8-4) cut it to 16 early in the second half, but Maine pushed back getting two more three-pointers from Fogarty and a two point jumper as well on a 16-6 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 26 at 58-32. 21 is as close as the visitors got the rest of the way as the Black Bears won their fourth straight game, moving into a second place tie with UMass-Lowell in the America East standings.
Maine forward Maeve Carroll jumps for the opening tipoff against UMass-Lowell forward Denise Solis during America East women’s basketball action in Bangor on Wednesday February 12, 2020. The Black Bears won the game 77-53. Photo by Chris Lessner
McVicar shot 7-13 overall from the floor (6-9 three-pointers), adding seven rebounds, two assists and four steals in the Maine win. Maeve Carroll had 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Fogarty finished with 14 points. Anne Simon also got into double figures with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The Bears hit 15 three-pointers on the night. Kharis Idom led UMass-Lowell with 18 points in the loss. Chasidey Willis added 12 points and nine rebounds. The Riverhawks only shot 35% from the floor and committed 21 turnovers. Maine is on the road at Albany on Saturday evening at 5 p.m.
