BANGOR, Maine- Four Maine players reached double figures on Wednesday night, led by 22 points from Maeve Carroll and 21 from Dor Saar en route to a 78-66 Black Bears win over Vermont in an America East women’s quarterfinal basketball game played at the Cross Insurance Center before 1,310 fans.
Vermont stayed right with the hosts for most of the contest. The first quarter saw eight lead changes with the Catamounts taking the biggest of six at 20-14 and 22-16. Vermont led 22-19 at the end of the first 10 minutes. Including a Maddy McVicar three-pointer to end the first, the Black Bears went on an 11-0 run that was capped off by a Carroll three point play to put Maine up 27-22 early in the second. They led by as many as five, before Delaney Richason tied it for Vermont at 32-32. Anne Simon hit two at the line and McVicar hit another three to give the five point lead back to the Black Bears that they wouldn’t relinquish 37-32. Maine held a 39-35 advantage at the half.
The hosts continued to lead early in the third quarter by two to seven points. McVicar made it eight with a three-pointer, before Crymble answered with a basket to cut it to 53-47. Carroll then hit two at the line and McVicar made a swooping layup in transition and was fouled. She made it a three point play and Maine had their biggest lead to that point 58-47. The Catamounts continued to answer and a three-pointer by Jane McCauley was the end of a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to 61-57. Simon made a basket to give the Bears a 63-57 lead headed to the fourth quarter. Maine seemed to be in control for the most part in the early stages of the final period. Simon knocked in a three-pointer to made it 71-63 with 5:14 left. After some empty possessions for both teams, McCauley nailed a three to make it a five point game again with 3:50 to play. Both teams couldn’t take control as they both again had empty possessions over the next almost three minutes. Saar came up with a big blocked shot with 1:12 remaining on another McCauley three point attempt, and then hit two free throws with 53.4 seconds showing on the clock to make it a three possession game. Maine hit five more free throws over the last 25 seconds to move on to a sixth consecutive semifinal game this Sunday. Black Bears freshman Anna Kahelin left the game late with an apparent serious knee injury, but no word on when she may return.
Carroll also had 11 rebounds and nine assists, and Saar had six assists that they added to their game high point totals. Saar had five made three-pointers on the night, and with her first she moved past Sigi Koizar for third all-time in program history for three-point field goals made. Simon finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, and McVicar had a solid game as well with 14 points and five rebounds to lead Maine to their ninth straight win. The Black Bears hit 12 three-pointers on the night and made 16-20 from the foul line. Josie Larkins led 12-18 and #7 Vermont with 19 points and nine assists in the loss. Crymble, the only senior on the Catamounts, finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in her final collegiate game. Utterback added 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The visitors only hit 4-17 from three-point land.
Maine forward Maeve Carroll (in white) tips off with Vermont forward Hanna Crymble to start an America East quarterfinal game in Bangor on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The Black Bears won the game 78-66. Photo by Chris Lessner
#2 seed Maine (17-14) will host #3 seed UMass-Lowell (16-14) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Memorial Gym (the Pit) in Orono in an America East semifinal. The Riverhawks defeated UMBC in their quarterfinal Wednesday night. The two teams split the season series, with each winning on their home courts. In other America East action top seed Stony Brook got past #8 Albany in overtime, while #4 Binghamton topped #5 UNH. Binghamton visits Stony Brook Sunday in the other semifinal matchup. The America East championship will follow that on Friday, March 13 hosted by the highest remaining seed. Maine is the two time defending champion.
Maine guard Dor Saar dribbles up the court as she is flanked by Maeve Carroll during third quarter action in an America East quarterfinal against Vermont in Bangor on March 4, 2020. Photo by Chris Lessner
