In a rare Monday noontime start, the University of Maine and University of New Hampshire made up their previously postponed America East women’s basketball game at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, New Hampshire. Another big game from Adrianna Smith and the second half shooting of Olivia Rockwood led Maine to a 56-45 win to end a three game losing streak.
Both teams held a lead in the first quarter, with UNH holding a slim 14-12 advantage after the opening 10 minutes. A jumper by Lucia Melero gave the Wildcats their biggest lead of the day at 18-12 early in the second. After Maine used a 9-3 spurt to tie it 21-21 on a layup by Smith, the hosts immediately took the lead back on a three-pointer by Avery O’Connor. The Black Bears ended the first half on a 9-0 run on a Smith jumper, three-pointers by Sera Hodgson and Paula Gallego, and a last second free throw by Smith to take a 30-24 advantage into the halftime break. UNH came out strong in the third quarter as they made a run of their own. The 10 straight points over the first 5:51 was capped off by a layup by Adara Groman to make it 34-30 Wildcats. A 13-5 response by the guests helped by a pair of three-pointers by Olivia Rockwood made it 43-39 Maine heading to the fourth. Rockwood continued her hot shooting with two more three-pointers to start the final period and a 10 point Black Bears lead (19-5 run overall). UNH (7-17, 2-10 America East) never got closer than eight the rest of the way, as the lead went to as many as 13.
Smith had another double double finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. It is the 16th straight game for Smith with double digit scoring in what breaks the first three game conference losing streak for Maine since the 2012-13 season. Rockwood finished with 12 points on the strength of those four second half 3-pointers. Only three other Black Bear players scored in the victory- Jaycie Christopher had nine points (three 3-pointers) and seven rebounds, Hodgson had six points and four boards, and Gallego had five points, five assists, and three steals. O’Connor and Groman had 12 points each in the loss for New Hampshire. O’Connor also added nine rebounds. Maine is on the road again Saturday as they travel to Albany to battle the Great Danes for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Recap/Photo by Chris Lessner and Anthony DelMonaco
Box Score
UME (13-12, 9-4) 12 18 13 13- 56
UNH (7-17, 2-10) 14 10 15 6- 45
Rebounds- Maine 41, UNH 35
Free throws- Maine 4-5, UNH 3-4
Turnovers- Maine 13, UNH 14
Three-pointers- Maine: Rockwood 4, Christopher 3, Hodgson 2, Gallego/ UNH: O’Connor 2, Groman, Kane
