Anne Simon led three players in double figures with a game high 15 points on Sunday afternoon, and the Maine Black Bears shut out the Vermont Catamounts in the third quarter in cruising to a 58-37 win in America East women’s basketball action at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Maine never trailed and after Alba Orois and Josie Larkins matched three-pointers early to start off the scoring, they used a 9-0 run for a 12-3 lead. The Black Bears held a 14-5 advantage after the opening 10 minutes. Vermont would cut it to 16-11 on a Catherine Gilwee three-pointer 2:40 into the second, but that is the last time they were within striking distance. A layup by Orois, two free throws from Simon, an Orois three-pointer, and a layup by Simon helped ignite a 9-0 spurt and a 14 point lead and they would lead by 16 at 36-20 at halftime. The hosts totally blew it open in the third quarter, outscoring the Catamounts 16-0 as Vermont shot 0-11. The lead went to as many as 32, as Maine (8-10, 5-3 America East) has now won back to back conference games for the first time this season.
Simon added five rebounds and six steals to her game high point total. Caroline Bornemann had 13 points and six rebounds, and Orois finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Maeve Carroll also chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Emma Utterback led Vermont in the loss with 10 points, as the Catamounts fall to 11-9, 5-4 in conference play. Maine is scheduled to play at UMass-Lowell with an 11 a.m. start on Wednesday.
