University of Maine
Stony Brook
Black Bears Lose Heartbreaker to Stony Brook, 73-70
1/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (3-16, 1-6 America East) dropped a heartbreaking 73-70 decision to the visiting Stony Brook Seawolves (4-15, 1-6 AE) on Sunday afternoon at Alfond Arena. Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa.) was named the America East Player of the Game as she led the way for Maine with 17 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.
The Black Bears had four players in double-figures including Vanderhoff, Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) (14), Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine) (13) and Ali Nalivaika (Worcester, Mass.) (10). Roberts knocked down a career high 10 free throws while Nalivaika grabbed a career high nine rebounds in the contest.
Kirsten Jeter was Stony Brook's America East Player of the Game as she poured in a game high 28 points with 10 rebounds for the double-double.
With 12:15 to play in the first half, Jeter would knock down a jumper to put the Seawolves up by five. The Black Bears would then go on the first of their many runs in the game to tie things at 21. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) would grab a huge offensive board and go right back up, laying the ball softly off the glass to cut the lead to three. Nalivaika would get a block on the other end for Maine. Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) would grab the rebound and push the pace, getting the ball back to Nalivaika who hit a fastbreak jumper in the lane to cut the lead to just one. Stony Brook would jump back ahead by three before Baranowski was fouled and hit her first free throw. Vanderhoff would grab a rebound on a missed three pointer by Sam Landers. Maine would work the ball around the offensive end before Ross found Baranowski who hit a jumper to tie things at 21-21 with 9:27 to play.
Stony Brook jumped back out to a five point lead before Ross hit a three pointer to bring Maine within two, 30-28, with 3:28 to play in the first half. However, Stony Brook would once again build their lead to five heading into halftime, 35-30.
Nalivaika led the Black Bears in the first half with eight points, five rebounds and two big blocks. Ross also had a solid first half for Maine with seven points, four rebounds and two blocks. Jeter was the overall high scorer in the first half as she notched 18 points for Stony Brook.
Stony Brook would keep a four point lead for much of the second half until Ross grabbed a defensive board and Maine was off to the races. Ross hit Vanderhoff with the outlet pass as Maine pushed the floor. Vanderhoff would give the ball back to Ross who once again knocked down a big three pointer from the top of the key to bring Maine within one, 49-48 with 10:46 to play in the second half.
Maine would grab the lead when Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) was fouled on a three-point attempt. She nailed all three free throws, including her 200th point of her career, to give Maine a two point lead with 9:05 to play. The game would go back and forth before Smith tied things up for the tenth time in the game on a jumper with 6:52 remaining.
The Seawolves would jump out to a six point lead on a layup by Destiny Jacobs with 3:52 to play. Maine would once again go on a run as Roberts hit a free throw before grabbing a defensive rebound on the next Stony Brook possesion, pushing the ball down the floor and laying it in. Down four with 53 seconds to play, Ross would once again hit a big three to cut the Stony Brook lead to just one, 71-70. Maine's defense would force a shot-clock violation and the Black Bears would get the ball back with six seconds remaining. However, Stony Brook would force a turnover and Jeter would hit a pair of free throws with .01 seconds remaining to give the Seawolves a 73-70 victory.
The Black Bears return to America East play when they host New Hampshire on Wedensday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.
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