Rockwood leads Maine women’s basketball to road win over Bryant, Clayton and Filipovity lift Maine men to upset home win over the Bulldogs

Published by %s
February 3, 2024

The University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams took on Bryant University on Saturday afternoon. The women’s team was on the road in Rhode Island, while the men’s team hosted the Bulldogs in the Pit.

In the women’s game at Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island- Olivia Rockwood had a career day in helping Maine defeat Bryant 70-58. The Black Bears had built a 20-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Sarah Talon. The Bulldogs used a 19-6 run over the next 7:17 to tie it 26-26 on a layup by Kemari Reynolds. Rockwood made her fourth 3-pointer of the first half, and Jaycie Christopher also added one both in the last 58 seconds of the period for a 32-26 advantage at halftime. Maine got some separation by outscoring Bryant 22-10 in the third to pick up their eighth conference win.

Rockwood would finish with a career-high and a game-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers (8-17). Adrianna Smith added another double double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Christopher and Caroline Bornemann both chipped in eight points a piece. They played without Anne Simon, who rolled her ankle during the win on Thursday over UMass-Lowell. Maine is now 15-8 and 8-1 in America East. Mariona Planes Fortuny led Bryant in the loss with 19 points and seven rebounds. Reynolds had 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Silvia Gonzalez also finished in double figures with 13 points, as the Bulldogs fell to 10-12 and 3-6 in conference play.

Videos courtesy of Maine Women’s Basketball on Twitter

 

In the men’s game in the Pit at Memorial Gymnasium in Orono- Jaden Clayton and Peter Filipovity both scored over 20 points, and Maine used a 16-2 second half run to take the lead for good en route to a 79-72 upset win over second place Bryant. The Bulldogs came out strong and built as much as a 13 point first half lead at 27-14. The Black Bears answered with a run of 11-0 to get back in the game, and took a momentary 31-29 advantage on a layup by A.J. Lopez. Bryant scored the next six points over the last 1:54 of the opening 20 minutes to take a 35-31 lead into the halftime break.

After Earl Timberlake gave Bryant that same four point cushion 45-41 with a layup with 15:30 left to play, Maine would go on their run to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Black Bears would spread around the scoring during the 16-2 spurt, as Lopez (5), Kristians Feierbergs (3), Clayton (3), Quion Burns (3), and Filipovity (2) all scored to make it 57-47 in favor of the hosts with 11:45 remaining. The Bulldogs would close to within one several times, with the final time being on two free throws from Doug Edert with 3:17 to go. Layups by Filipovity and Clayton and a total of seven free throws between the two down the stretch would put it away.

Clayton led all scorers with a game-high and a career-high 24 points, five rebounds, and six assists in the Maine win. Filipovity had a double double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot. Also finishing in double figures was Lopez with 15 points, and Feierbergs with 10 points and six rebounds. The Black Bears improve to 11-12 and 3-5 in America East. Timberlake led Bryant in the loss with 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Sherif Gross-Bullock added 17 points, as the Bulldogs lose just their second conference game falling to 14-9 and 6-2.

Videos courtesy of Maine Men’s Basketball on Twitter

 

The UMaine teams both have a week off before returning to action against UNH next Saturday. Women’s basketball will host the Wildcats in the Pit at 2 p.m., while the men are on the road in Durham at 7.

Recaps by Chris Lessner

 

 

 

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