The University of Maine basketball teams were both in action Saturday afternoon in America East play, as the women were in Albany and the men were in Vermont to face the Catamounts.
At SEFCU Arena in Albany, NY, the women’s basketball team put four players in double figures to pick up their fourth straight win with a 66-48 over the Albany Great Danes.
Maine (9-1, 6-1 America East) took an 18-6 lead after one quarter, and held the hosts from Albany without a point for 7:07 stretching from the first into the second building an 18 point advantage and took a 13 point bulge 33-20 into halftime. The Black Bears used a 10-0 run to start the fourth to break the game open to their biggest lead of 25. Maeve Carroll and Blanca Millan led the way with 16 points and five rebounds each in the win. Dor Saar had 15 points and five assists, while Anne Simon chipped in 14 points and five rebounds. Lucia Decortes had 12 points and eight rebounds for Albany (2-5, 1-2) who was playing their home opener and first game since December 22. The Black Bears only had eight turnovers, and used 21 Great Danes miscues to outscore them 25-5 on points off the mistakes.
At Tom Brennan Court in Burlington, Vermont the host Catamounts used a 21-0 run and some cold shooting by the visiting Black Bears rolling to a 65-30 men’s America East basketball win.
Vermont (6-3) blew open a close game using a 12-0 run to end the first half for a 19 point halftime lead, and extending that run to 21-0 early in the second half for a 28 point advantage. The Black Bears went the final 4:48 of the opening half without a point, and didn’t score until one free throw was made 2:55 into the second (7:43 drought). Mykhalio Yagodin ended a 0-14 streak from the floor with a layup with 13:20 remaining. The Catamounts would lead by as many as 37 in the second half. Maine (2-6, 2-5 America East) was led by Solomon Iluyomade and Vilgot Larsson who had seven points a piece, with Iluyomade adding 10 rebounds. The Bears only shot 23% from the field and 1-15 from the three point arc. Ryan Davis had 15 points and Seth Smith 14 to lead Vermont.
Both teams finish their two game series Sunday afternoon, with the women’s game tipping off at 12 p.m., and the men’s contest scheduled for 2.
