University of Maine
Harvard
Women's Basketball Unable to Hold on to Halftime Lead
11/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine – The Maine women's basketball team (0-1) held a 29-28 halftime lead but fell 73-54 in the season opener against Harvard (1-0). Four Black Bears scored in double figures, and America East Player of the Game Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y./Wilson Magnet) tallied her second career double-double in the loss.
"We knew in the second half every possession was going to be critical for us. I thought we had great scoring opportunities. We have to convert them," said head coach Cindy Blodgett.
Wellington scored 10 points and pulled down 10 boards, while Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) led the team with 12 points. Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) and Samantha Wheeler (Derry, N.H./Timberlane Regional) added 11 points each.
UMaine jumped out to an early nine-point lead in the first half. Vanderhoff drained a three pointer right after a media timeout to give the Black Bears a 14-5 lead. Maine extended their lead to 10 points at the 8:07 mark on another three pointer, this one by Smith.
Harvard took their second lead of the game with 2:15 remaining in the first half, but the Black Bears led 29-28 at half. Vanderhoff led both teams at the break with 10 points, while Brogan Berry led the Crimson with nine points. Maine held Harvard to just 30 percent shooting at halftime.
"We jumped out early and were able to convert on some transition opportunities. They closed the gap at the half, but we allowed only 28 points in the first half which was a solid effort," said Blodgett.
The Crimson reeled off 45 points in the second half and out scored Maine 45-25 in the period. Harvard scored 28 points in the paint and 30 off UMaine turnovers. The Black Bears held a 44-38 edge on the boards and recorded 15 second-chance points.
Maine held a three-point lead three minutes into the second half, but Harvard quickly opened an eight-point lead with 13:36 remaining in the second half. The Crimson posted their largest lead of the game with 1:24 to go. Brogan Berry, who led the Crimson with 20 points, put Harvard up 73-54.
Maine will travel to Bryant next Friday for a 7 p.m. contest with the Bulldogs.
