BANGOR, Maine- After a tough first half on Wednesday night, the Maine Black Bears exploded for 27 third quarter points and pulled away from the New Hampshire Wildcats 67-50 in America East women’s basketball at the Cross Insurance Center.
Both teams had trouble finding the hoop in the opening 20 minutes, combining to shoot 17-54 (31%). Maine held the lead the entire first quarter and 14-11 headed to the second. UNH (4-11, 1-2 America East) took a pair of one point leads early in that second quarter, before the Bears took the halftime lead 22-19 by scoring six of the final eight points to end the half over the last 7:40.
Maine (6-11, 2-1) shot a sizzling 10-15 in the third quarter, making their first five three-point attempts to stretch the lead. Maddy McVicar had a pair from long distance, along with one from Anne Simon, and also a pair from Kelly Fogarty to make it 43-26 with a 21-7 spurt. McVicar said, “We came out with more energy in the third quarter. We have a team of shooters, eventually they are gonna fall”. The Wildcats cut it to 49-36 after three, before Dor Saar hit a three, McVicar made two free throws, and Saar hit another jumper for a 7-0 start to the fourth quarter to give the Black Bears their biggest lead 56-36. Maine wouldn’t let UNH get closer than 15 the rest of the way. Head coach Amy Vachon said, “I just thought offensively in the first half we were really stagnant. Credit to New Hampshire, they were pressuring Dor (Saar) and we were slow at getting the ball up. In the second half we had Dor just run the floor and we got it up quicker and faster, and it just went smoother”.
Maine guard Dor Saar looks to make a pass during fourth quarter action in America East women’s basketball against UNH on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 in Bangor. Maine won the game 67-50. Photo by Chris Lessner
McVicar finished with 17 points to lead the way in the Black Bear win. Maeve Carroll had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Simon also had 13, adding four rebounds and six assists. Saar also got into double figures with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Former Greely standout and Miss Maine basketball Ashley Storey led the Wildcats in the loss with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Amanda Torres also added 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists. UNH head coach Maureen McGarity said, “We said at halftime that to be only down one possession, but also they had only hit one three. We knew it the second half they were gonna pick that up. They are just too good of shooters. I thought in the first half we did a decent job of matching up and using our length and made them put the ball on the floor”. Maine ended up shooting 44% from the field, and outscored UNH 25-11 on points off turnovers. The Black Bears will host Albany on Saturday at 5 p.m.
