ORONO- Adrianna Smith recorded her fifth straight double double and led all scorers with 25 points on Saturday afternoon, as the University of Maine Black Bears defeated the UMBC Retrievers 71-54 in America East women’s basketball action at Memorial Gymnasium (The Pit).
In a back and forth first quarter, Maine at one point hit three-pointers on three consecutive possessions. Later in the period, Caroline Bornemann knocked down her second from the arc in the first 10 minutes as the Black Bears led 16-11. UMBC would score seven of the last nine points over the last two minutes to tie the game 18-18 capped off by a three-pointer from Keelah Dixon. The contest was tied six more times in the second quarter, before a Bornemann basket and 2-2 from the line from Smith would allow the hosts to go into the halftime break with a 35-32 edge.
Simon would score all eight of her second half points in the third quarter as Maine stretched the lead to 54-42 by outscoring UMBC 19-10. A basket by Paula Gallego and a three-pointer from Bornemann to open the fourth put the Black Bears up 17, which was the final margin of victory. The Retrievers never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Smith added 10 rebounds and five assists to her game high point total in the win for Maine, and was 11-19 from the floor. It is her ninth double double overall on the season. Simon finished with 15 points and four assists. Bornemann chipped in 13 points on 3-6 three-point shooting, also adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Sarah Talon and Gallego also played solidly, finishing with seven and five points respectively. Dixon had 17 points in the loss for UMBC (4-6 three-pointers), while Kiara Bell contributed 10 points. The Retrievers fall to 6-10, 3-2 in America East. Maine, who was at a disadvantage height wise and experience wise, would outrebound UMBC 36-29. The Black Bears improve their record to 8-8, 4-0 in conference play their best start in league action since the 2018-19 season when they also started 4-0. They will host Vermont on Wednesday night in the Pit at 7 p.m.
UMB (6-10, 3-2) 18 14 10 12- 54
MAI (8-8, 4-0) 18 17 19 17- 71
Rebounds- UMBC 29, Maine 36
Free throws- UMBC 7-12, Maine 3-4
Turnovers- UMBC 10, Maine 10
Three-point goals- UMBC: Dixon 4, White/ Maine: Bornemann 3, Simon, Gallego, Hodgson, Rockwood, Talon
Recap/photos/videos by Chris Lessner
