ORONO- The Maine women’s basketball team gave Big 10 opponent Oregon all they could handle on Friday night, before the Ducks rallied for a 79-72 victory before a very enthusiastic sold out crowd on Skip Chappelle Court at Memorial Gymnasium.
After Oregon got out to a 9-4 first quarter lead, Maine answered in a big way going on a 15-2 run to end the opening 10 minutes to jump ahead 19-11. Lala Woods hit two three-pointers during the spurt, Bailey Breen (Oceanside) also hit one from distance, and Olivia Alvarez beat the first quarter buzzer banking a shot in for three as well. The Black Bears took their largest lead of the night at 30-19 in the second, before the Ducks closed the gap to 33-27 at the break thanks to four points each from Ehis Etute and Katie Fiso.
Despite Oregon coming back to tie it with a 9-0 run in the third quarter, Maine did not give up their lead helped again by the shooting of Woods who had two more three-pointers in the period as the Black Bears took a 57-54 advantage to the final 10 minutes. A three-pointer by Brooklyn Haywood with 8:13 left would push the Ducks ahead to stay, as they would build it to as many as 12 and earn the hard fought road win.
Fiso was outstanding for Oregon and was the games high scorer finishing with 32 points, six assists, and five rebounds. She hit 14-21 from the floor. Haywood added 24 points (4-7 three-pointers), while Etute contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots. The Ducks improve to 4-1 on the season, going 3-1 on their five day three state road trip (at Grand Canyon University, Vermont, and Maine). Woods led Maine in the defeat with 21 points (6-13 three-pointers), along with five rebounds and four assists. Maddie Fitzpatrick (Cheverus) had 19 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Alvarez, Abby Price, and Breen all chipped in nine points a piece. Alvarez had six rebounds, while Price was a perfect 3-3 from the floor (all three-pointers). The Black Bears (2-1) are back in action on Sunday when they host Brown at 1 p.m.
