ORONO- Paula Gallego had a career-high 21 points, while Sarah Talon and Caroline Bornemann chipped in with 18 and 12 points respectively on Monday as the defending America East Champion Maine Black Bears beat La Salle University 65-51 in non-conference women’s basketball action inside the Pit at Memorial Gymnasium. It was the mutual season opener for both teams on Field Trip Day, with several local elementary schools in attendance.
After allowing the opening basket, Maine went on an early 9-0 run sparked by a hoop each by Gallego and Bornemann, a three-pointer from the corner by Talon, and two underneath by Caroline Dotsey. The Explorers scored the next seven unanswered to tie it back up, before the Black Bears retained the lead for good by hiting three-pointers on three consecutive possessions with two by Gallego and one by Talon and led 20-11 after one quarter. A third three-pointer of the first half by Talon opened the second period for the biggest Maine lead to that point of 12, and they took a 30-23 edge to the break. Gallego and Talon combined for 24 of the 30 points in the opening 20 minutes on 9 for 14 shooting (6-10 three-pointers).
After Gallego pushed the lead back to 10 with a three-pointer to begin the third quarter, La Salle reeled off nine straight points capped off by a three-pointer by Joan Quinn to slice it to 33-32. The Black Bears, who are without senior forward Adrianna Smith and two-time Maine High School Gatorade Player of the Year freshman Maddie Fitzpatrick for the season due to injury, went through an 0-7 shooting stretch going scoreless for 5:37 in that third period that allowed the Explorers back in the game. Maine re-stored a cushion though when Talon hit another three-pointer, and Idan Shlush provided a spark off the bench with a layup and later a three-pointer as they scored 15 of the last 21 points to take a 48-38 advantage to the fourth. They would seal the win by hitting 9-12 from the free throw line in the final 10 minutes as they built their lead to as many as 16.
Gallego in her career-high game went 8-10 from the floor (4-6 three-pointers), and finished with a double double by adding 10 rebounds and three assists in the win. Her previous high was 13 points that she had accomplished twice. Talon went 6-13 (5-6 three-pointers). The five 3-pointers are also a career-high for the Windham, Maine native. Bornemann was 5-10 from the floor and was big on the glass registering the second double double for her team on the day with 14 rebounds. Maine shot 41.8% overall from the floor, and 34.5% from beyond the arc (10-29). Ayisse Magassa (13 points) and Quinn (12 points) were the leading scorers for La Salle, who is out of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Explorers shot 33%, but just 2-13 (15.4%) from three-point territory. Next up for the Black Bears is Ivy League opponent the University of Pennsylvania Quakers at the Pit in Orono on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Photos and postgame video interviews by Chris Lessner
Paula Gallego postgame
Sarah Talon postgame
Amy Vachon postgame
