At Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington on Saturday evening, the Vermont Catamounts shot 60% from the floor and built a 23 point halftime lead and rolled past the cold shooting Maine Black Bears 65-34 in America East women’s basketball action. The loss is the third consecutive for Maine.
The game was never in doubt, as Vermont scored the first eight points. After Olivia Rockwood scored on a layup for the only Maine basket of the first quarter (1-11), the Catamounts ended the period on a 13-0 run as the lead was 21-2. The Black Bears struggled once again in the second (2-12), and the hosts went to the break up 31-8. The guests went 3-23 (13%) from the field overall in the first half, including 0-12 from three-point territory. The lead would balloon to as many as 33 in the fourth quarter, as UVM put three players in double figures in picking up their 10th conference win.
Caroline Bornemann led Maine in the loss with 11 rebounds to go along with her seven points. Sera Hodgson and Jaycie Christopher put in six points a piece, while Paula Gallego added five points and six rebounds. The Black Bears ended up shooting 26% (12-46) in falling to 12-13 and 7-5 in America East. Anna Olson had 19 points for Vermont in the win. Bella Vito contributed 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Nikola Priede also got into double figures with 11 points. The Catamounts hit 30-50 (60%) from the floor in improving to 15-11 and 10-2 in the conference. Maine will return to Orono to open up a three game homestand against first place Albany on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
