The University of Maine women’s basketball competed in the Thanksgiving Classic at Saint Mary’s College in California on Friday and Saturday afternoon against the Kansas Jayhawks and Niagra Purple Panthers, and would end up with a split and a third place finish.
On Friday- Kansas put five players in double figures and pulled away from Maine 76-49. The Jayhawks scored the first nine points of the game, before the Black Bears took a momentary lead 12-11 on a jumper by Abbe Laurence. KU ended the first quarter on a 15-2 run to take control. They built a 16 point halftime lead, and then outscored Maine 19-8 in the third period to put it away. Caroline Bornemann had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bears in the loss, while Laurence added 10 points and six rebounds. Zakiyah Franklin led all scorers with 21 points in the win for the Jayhawks.
On Saturday- Sera Hodgson had a career high 22 points to lead Maine over Niagra 73-57 in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Hodgson had 17 of those 22 in the first half, as the Black Bears led by as many as eight and 33-29 at the halftime break. After building the lead to 10 in the third quarter, the Purple Panthers would rally within four points on three different occasions between the third and fourth periods. Maine was able to end the game on a 12-2 run to put it away for the 16 point victory. Hodgson was 6-9 from the floor, and 5-8 from the three-point arc. Olivia Rockwood had 14 points. Caroline Bornemann and Adrianna Smith both had double doubles, as Bornemann had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Smith had 11 points and 10 boards. Paula Gallego also got into double figures with 10 points. Aaliyah Parker had 24 points in the loss for Niagra who falls to 1-5 on the season.
The Black Bears are now 3-3 and head to Spokane, Washington to battle the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Monday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
