The Maine Black Bears put three players in double figures, and would pull away for a 54-39 America East women’s basketball win over UMass-Lowell at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts on Thursday night. It was the conference opener for both teams, and Maine has now won 8 straight America East openers and 9 of their last 10.
Maine went cold after an Olivia Rockwood layup and a Caroline Bornemann free throw for a 3-0 advantage in the first 1:48 of action, as they would then go scoreless over the next 5:40. UMass-Lowell would take advantage with a 10-0 run for their only lead of the night at 10-3, which they held 10-8 after the opening 10 minutes. The three-point shot began dropping in the second for the Black Bears, as Asta Blauenfeldt and Olivia Rockwood both hit a pair of them with the first four possessions of the period as the guests went up by as many as 12 and wouldn’t trail again. Rockwood moved into eighth place all-time in program history in made three-pointers.
UMass-Lowell (2-11, 0-1 America East) got it all the way down to just a four point deficit after trailing by 11 early in the third quarter, but Maine had the answer again from behind the arc as Jaycie Christopher and Blauenfeldt each knocked one in as the Black Bears led by 10 heading to the fourth. The Riverhawks made one more run to get within six, but Maine would pull away finishing the contest on a 10-2 run to win back to back games for the first time this season.
Blauenfeldt led the way in the win Maine 16 points (4-8 three-pointers), while also adding four rebounds. Rockwood and Caroline Bornemann both had 12 points. Bornemann also contributed nine rebounds, and moving past her head coach Amy Vachon for 28th on the all-time Maine scoring list. Rockwood had six rebounds and four steals. Paula Gallego chipped in nine points, seven assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot. Sydney Watkins led UMass-Lowell in the loss with 12 points, six steals, four rebounds, and four assists. Abbey Lindsey also got into double figures with 10 points and four rebounds. The Black Bears have now won 23 of the 25 games played head to head with the Riverhawks. Maine improves to 6-8, 1-0 in America East and will host Bryant University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the home conference opener in the Pit on Skip Chappelle Court in Orono.
