University of Maine
Massachusetts
Black Bears Snap Nine-Game Skid Behind Vanderhoff's Career Night
12/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine – America East Player of the Game, Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite), drained a career-high 18 points and five three pointers to power Maine (2-10) to a 66-62 win over UMass (3-10) Wednesday night at Alfond Arena. The win snapped a nine-game skid and was the third straight over the Minutewomen.
UMaine posted 46 rebounds for the second game in a row and their largest margin of the season. The Black Bears out-rebounded UMass 46-31 and were led by Corinne Wellington's (Rochester, N.Y./Wilson Magnet) 9 boards.
Wellington was also one of three other Maine players to join Vanderhoff in scoring in double figures. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del./Concord) added 11 points, including a pair of free throws in the final 11 seconds of the contest, while Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) scored 13 points and pulled down six boards.
The Black Bears led by as many as nine points in the final two minutes of the game, but the Minutewomen pulled to within two points with 27 seconds remaining on a three by Megan Zullo. Zullo led UMass with 16 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. A foul by Cerie Mosgrove sent senior Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) to the free throw line with 20 seconds remaining. Ross drained both shots extending the lead to four points.
UMass made another bucket and pulled to within two points a second time on a layup by Jasmine Watson; however, Ashleigh Roberts drained two more free throws at the 11 second mark to secure the win.
The game was tightly contested with 11 lead changes and six ties. Talen Watson drained a three pointer in the final second of the first half to send the game to the half tied at 28-28. Zullo led UMass with eight points and played all 20 minutes of the first half. Smith led all scorers in the period with 10 points, while Wellington added six points and six boards.
The game was back and forth in the first 10 minutes of the second half, before Vanderhoff exploded for four three pointers in the final 10 minutes. The sophomore guard scored only two points in the first half but added 16 points in the second period. Maine never trailed in the final 10:44 of the half. Ali Nalivaika (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) gave UMaine the lead for good with a jumper, putting the Black Bears back on top 44-43.
Maine opens America East play after New Year's Day with a pair of games on the road. The Black Bears travel to Boston U. on January 2nd and Hartford on January 5th before returning home to face UMBC on the 9th.
