University of Maine
New Brunswick
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Women's Basketball Reels Off Comeback Win Over New Brunswick
11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine – A 13-2 run with 5:26 remaining sparked Maine women's basketball to a 77-72 come-from-behind win over New Brunswick in the final exhibition game. Maine completed their exhibition schedule with a 2-0 record. UNB, the #5 ranked team in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), came into the exhibition contest with a 9-1 record.
"It was really important for us to have a game like this [in exhibition play]," said Katelyn Vanderhoff.
"They were not afraid of the moment," said head coach Cindy Blodgett. "We played behind nearly the entire game; but in the last five minutes we got a couple of stops, and it led to some offensive scores."
The Black Bears had five players score in double figures for the second-straight game and were led by Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y./Wilson Magnet) and Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del./Concord), who both scored 16 points each. The young guard-forward combination have averaged a combined 26.5 points a game in the two exhibition contests.
"I like our versatility. I think it is difficult to defend against five or six players that can score 10 or 15 points a game," said Blodgett.
Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) added 13 points in 27 minutes, while Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) tossed in 10 and Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) drained 12 points.
New Brunswick led 44-36 at halftime behind 48.5% shooting from the field. Freshman forward Claire Colborne led the team with 10 points in the first period and was one of two players in double figures for the Varsity Reds. Colborne finished with 17 points, while Leah Corby tallied 13.
The Black Bears forced 19 second-half turnovers and held the Varsity Reds to 28 points in the second half to boost the comeback effort. UMaine also upped their scoring from 36 points in the first half to 41 in the second half. Vanderhoff helped lead Maine's defense effort with six steals.
"It came down to defense in the second half," said Blodgett. "There were so many great plays in the final eight minutes."
Samantha Wheeler (Derry, N.H./Timberlane Regional), who was hampered by foul trouble early in the second half, chipped in six points, six rebounds and three steals.
Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) appeared in her first game of the season and pulled down five boards in 20 minutes of action.
"Tanna played great and showed her veteran experience. She continues to work hard and battle injuries. She is a good teammate and got a big charge late in the game," said Blodgett.
The Black Bears open the regular season next Saturday against Harvard. Tip off is set for noon in Alfond Arena.
