Redshirt senior Adrianna Smith notched a double double and had 30 points to lead all scorers on Saturday afternoon, as Maine women’s basketball would pull away from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) 86-67 in America East action on Skip Chappelle Court inside Memorial Gymnasium in Orono.
In a back and forth first half where both teams held a lead, the Black Bears were able to gain some control with the score tied at 21-21 when they ended the second quarter on a run of 18-7 to take a 39-28 advantage to the break. Smith (6) and Lala Woods (5) combined for 11 of those 18 points. The Highlanders were on fire in the third in scoring 31 points (12-15, 80% from the floor) to get back in the game. NJIT went on a spurt of 17-7 to slice the deficit to 46-45 with six minutes left in the period. That would be as close as they would get in trying to jump back ahead, as Asta Blauenfeldt responded by scoring five of the next seven for Maine with a three-pointer and a layup as the hosts held a 66-59 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. Blauenfeldt made three 3-pointers in the third to help keep her team ahead. They used a 20-8 fourth quarter to sew up their third conference win.
Alejandra Zuniga would lead NJIT in the defeat with 22 points and five rebounds. Marissa Gingrich put in 14 points while grabbing eight rebounds, and Olivia Kulyk contributed 11 points. The Highlanders drop to 11-6 and 2-2 in America East. Smith recorded her ninth double double of the season as she added 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in the Maine win. Sarah Talon (Windham) had a season-high 19 points while adding seven rebounds and six assists. Blauenfeldt finished with 18 points (four 3-pointers), five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. The Black Bears are now 8-9 and 3-1 in the conference and will host league favorite Vermont next Thursday at 6 p.m.
Photo from a previous Maine home game earlier this season
