BANGOR- Stony Brook raced out to a 14-0 lead on Sunday afternoon, and then pulled away again late after a Maine rally in the second half for a 63-44 America East women’s basketball win at the Cross Insurance Center.
After allowing the first 14 points, Maine finally got on the scoreboard with 4:55 left in in first quarter on two free throws from Alba Orois. The Black Bears were ice cold from the floor starting the game 1-18, and trailed 21-5 after the opening 10 minutes. The Seawolves continued to stretch their advantage by as many as 21 in the second quarter and by 19 at the half 33-14. The hosts in the first half shot 5-29 (17%). Maine would have a much better third period shooting 57% and putting up 21 points. They scored the first five points of the second half on a jumper by Adrianna Smith and a three-pointer from Orois to slice it to 14, before Stony Brook would push it back to 19. A 12-2 run cut into the Black Bears deficit again at 44-35 by the end of the third, sparked by back to back three-pointers by Anne Simon and Caroline Bornemann and a layup and two point jumpshot by Simon. A three-pointer by Olivia Rockwood early in the fourth brought the crowd to their feet and got Maine as close as they had been since the first quarter at 46-38. The visiting Seawolves though were too much as the Bears just couldn’t hit enough shots and only scored nine points in the final quarter, ending the game on a 17-6 run to pick up their second conference win improving to 11-2 overall (2-1 America East).
Simon was the only Maine player in double figures in the loss scoring 14 points with three rebounds and two steals. Orois added nine points and five assists, while both Rockwood and Smith had six points a piece. The Black Bears shot just 29% for the day and only had just nine free throw attempts (6-9) compared to 28 for Stony Brook (21-28). Anastasia Warren led the Seawolves with 15 points and four rebounds. India Pagan added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Leighah-Amori Wall chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Stony Brook ended up shooting 38% after a red hot start. Maine is now 5-9, 2-2 in America East and will host New Hampshire on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Maine guard Alba Orois shoots a free throw during the first half of the Black Bears America East game against Stony Brook on Sunday, January 9 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Seawolves won 63-44. Photo by Chris Lessner
