BANGOR, Me- Led by Blanca Millans 18 points, the University of Maine women’s basketball team made 13 three pointers Saturday afternoon to take down the visiting Toledo Rockets 73-59 in the teams season opener at the Cross Insurance Center.
Avenging a one point overtime road loss to Toledo last season in Ohio, Parise Rossignol made four three pointers in the first quarter alone for the Bears. Rossignol made three pointers on three consecutive possessions as the Rockets had taken an early 4-2 lead, but the shooting of the senior guard made it 11-4 very quickly. After ending the first with a five point lead, Maine (1-0) was able to build it to a 15 point halftime advantage at 43-28.
The Black Bears made it 48-28 early in the third quarter, on a Fanny Wading three pointer and a Tanesha Sutton basket. Toledo (0-1) wouldn’t go away however, going on a 10-2 run to cut it to 50-38. Millan then took over, with a pair of jumpers, a three pointer, and a pair of free throws for nine points in a row to put Maine back in control 59-38. “I know we didn’t score in a long time, and Coach Amy (Vachon) called the plays for me so I knew I had to score somehow”, said Millan. The hosts led by as many as 27 in the fourth quarter, with Toledo closing out the game on a 13-0 run to make for the final 14 point deficit.
Millan added six assists, six rebounds and two steals in the opening game win. Rossignol and Dor Saar both had 15 points, while Wadling finished with 11. Saar had five assists, while Wadling and Rossignol had seven and five rebounds respectively. Toledo was led by Kaayla McIntyre who had 24 points and seven rebounds. Toledo coach Tricia Cullop said, “We knew coming into today that Maine was a very very good team. I was disappointed with some of the things we did, but it doesn’t overshadow that they are a great team. We will learn from this, but I do believe Maine is gonna have a great year”.
Maine coach Amy Vachon said, “Just really happy for our team. Toledo is a really good basketball team, they are gonna go on and have a great year. I think this is a really solid win for us and for our program. We talked at the end of last year about the games we needed to win, and Toledo was one of them”.
Maine heads out on the road for this first time in the 2018-19 season when they visit Bryant University Tuesday night at 7 pm.
TOL 13 15 13 18- 59
UME 18 25 17 13- 73
Field goals- Toledo 24-60 (40%) Maine 28-64 (43.8%)
Three pointers- Toledo 3-13 (23.1%) Maine 13-36 (36.1%)
Free throws- Toledo 8-13 (61.5%) Maine 4-7 (57.1)
Turnovers- Toledo 14 Maine 13
