The Maine Black Bears men’s and women’s basketball teams were both playing the Bryant University Bulldogs on Wednesday night. The women’s team was at home, and the men’s team was out on the road.
In the women’s game at the Pit in Memorial Gymnasium in Orono- Maine broke open a close three point game with a 16-6 second quarter run before halftime, and then cruised to a 66-43 win over Bryant to take the season sweep over the Bulldogs. The Black Bears were clinging to a 17-14 lead with 7:08 left first half, but went on that run to build their advantage to 13 at the break. Caroline Bornemann, Olivia Rockwood, and Jaycie Christopher all hit three-pointers during the spurt and Adrianna Smith had a pair of layups. Smith led three players in double figures with another double double finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals. Sera Hodgson and Rockwood had 11 points each, Christopher added seven, and Bornemann and Abbe Laurence chipped in six points a piece as they also owned the boards 43-30 (15 offensive rebounds). The Black Bears are now 12-9, 8-1 in America East. Mariona Planes Fortuny had 15 points and five rebounds for Bryant, as they fall to 7-16 and 1-9 in conference play.
In the men’s game at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island- Bryant used a 14-0 run to finally break the game open at the start of the second half, and went on to defeat Maine 71-53. Bryant (14-8, 5-4 America East) started the game on a 10-0 run holding the guests to no points over the first six minutes. The Bulldogs led by 10 on three different occasions, before the Black Bears rallied to get back into the game. Trailing 24-14, Maine ended the final 6:29 of the half on a run of 15-6 to cut their deficit to 30-29 at the break. A three-pointer by Ja’Shon Wright-McLeish, a jumper by Ata Tugut, a layup by Adefolalrin Adetogun, and three-pointers by both Jaden Clayton and Kellen Tynes was part of that spurt. Maine went over six minutes without scoring to begin the second half, and the hosts took advantage scoring 14 consecutive points for a 15 point lead and the Bears never got closer than 11 after that as their three game win streak comes to an end. Wright-McLeish led Maine in the loss with 11 points and was their only double digit scorer. Tynes had nine points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Clayton and Gedi Juozapaitis had seven points a piece. Clayton also added six rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Turgut and Peter Filipovity also contributed six points each. The Black Bears are now 9-13, 3-6 in conference play. Earl Timberlake had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists in the victory for Bryant as they also outrebounded Maine 37-25. Sherif Gross-Bullock had 16 points, and Charles Pride was also in double figures with 14 points.
Both Maine teams will play UMBC this Saturday. The men’s team is in the Pit, while the women’s team is in Baltimore with both games scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m.
Recaps by Chris Lessner
Women’s Box Score
BRY (7-16, 1-9) 10 10 12 11- 43
UME (12-9, 8-1) 11 22 18 15- 66
Rebounds- Bryant 30, Maine 43
Free Throws- Bryant 9-11, Maine 7-10
Turnovers- Bryant 12, Maine 10
Three-pointers- Bryant: Perkins 3, Gallagher/ Maine: Rockwood 3, Hodgson 2, Bornemann, Christopher
Men’s Box Score-
UME (9-13, 3-6) 29 24- 53
BRY (14-8, 5-4) 30 41- 71
Rebounds- Maine 25, Bryant 37
Free Throws- Maine 10-16, Bryant 10-11
Turnovers- Maine 18, Bryant 15
Three-pointers- Maine: Wright-McLeish 3, Tynes, Clayton, Juozapaitis, Ireland/ Bryant: Gross-Bullock 2, Edert 2, Pride
