Anna Olson scored 17 of her game high 21 points in the second half, and the Vermont Catamounts held the Maine Black Bears to just eight fourth quarter points on Wednesday night to take a 61-52 America East women’s basketball win in the Pit at Memorial Gymnasium in Orono. The victory for Vermont snaps a 10 game losing streak to Maine.
Both teams held a lead in a back and forth first quarter, with Maine ending the opening 10 minutes scoring the last four points for a 16-15 edge on a Jaycie Christopher basket. Anne Simon knocked in a three-pointer 2:16 into the second to cap off a 9-0 run to extend the advantage to 21-15. The lead went to as many as eight on a three-point play by Adrianna Smith, as they went in the locker room at the half up 29-24.
Maine still led by seven halfway through the third quarter, before Olson and Vermont started to get hot. Olson scored eight of the final 11 points in the period for the Catamounts, who pushed ahead 43-41 as part of an 11-2 run finished by a three-pointer by Catherine Gilwee. Christopher though took a cross court pass from Sarah Talon just before the buzzer and buried a three-pointer to give the Black Bears a 44-43 lead heading to the fourth quarter. Maine would struggle against the tough man to man defense by Vermont over the last 10 minutes. The Catamounts, who were ranked 22nd nationally coming in to the game in scoring defense, clamped down on the Black Bears forcing an 0-6 start from the floor (3-12 overall) to help them claim the road victory. They started the quarter on a 12-0 run to build the biggest lead of the night at 11, and the hosts never got closer than seven after that.
Simon led Maine in the loss with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Smith had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals falling just three rebounds short of a sixth straight double double. Christopher chipped in with 11 points, as the Black Bears fall to 8-9 and 4-1 in America East. They were seeking the best conference start since the 2003-2004 season (5-0). Olson shot 8-13 from the field to lead Vermont to the win. Delaney Richason added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Emma Utterback also got into double figures with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The Catamounts got to the free throw line 19 times compared to just two for their opponent, and with a fourth straight conference win improve to 12-6 overall and 4-2 in America East. Maine will head out on the road for a Saturday afternoon contest in New York at 2 p.m. against the Binghamton Bearcats.
Recap by Chris Lessner
VER (12-6, 4-2) 15 9 19 18- 61
UME (8-9, 4-1) 16 13 15 8- 52
Rebounds- Vermont 31, Maine 30
Free throws- Vermont 13-19, Maine 2-2
Turnovers- Vermont 13, Maine 12
Three-point goals- Vermont: Richason 3, Gilwee, Olson, Gonzalez/ Maine: Christopher 2, Simon, Gallego
