The University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams finished up a 3-1 weekend on Sunday afternoon, as the women finished off a sweep over NJIT and the men also were victorious to split their series with the Highlanders.
At Memorial Gym in Orono, the Maine women’s team built a 13 point halftime lead and cruised to their eighth win of the season with a 74-51 triumph over NJIT.
Blanca Millan led four players in double figures and had a game high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. The Black Bears (8-1, 5-1 America East) led from start to finish with 23 points being the largest margin in the contest. Maeve Carroll had 14 points, six rebounds, and eight assists, Dor Saar 13 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, while Kelly Fogarty also chipped in 12 points on four three-pointers. Lilly Anderson had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead NJIT (2-10, 2-6) in the loss. Maine will host Vermont next weekend.
At the NJIT Wellness and Events Center in Newark, New Jersey Precious Okoh hit a go ahead three-pointer with 1:36 left to play, leading the Maine men’s basketball team to a 45-41 win over NJIT to split the weekend series.
In a defensive battle, it was 18-18 at halftime as both teams combined to shoot just 25% from the floor. Maine (2-5, 2-4 America East) would lead by as many as seven in the game, before the Highlanders would have their first lead of two on a couple different occasions in the second half. The hosts took their final lead at 34-33 on a free throw by Souleymane Diakite with 5:58 left, before the Black Bears scored 12 of the final 19 points to pick up the conference win. LeChaun DuHart had 15 points and five rebounds, and Stephane Ingo had another double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Diakite and San Antonio Brinson each had 10 points in the loss for NJIT (4-4, 3-3). Maine is at preseason favorite Vermont to tangle with the Catamounts next weekend.
