University of Maine
UMBC
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Ross' Last Second Three Propels Maine Over UMBC, 60-57
1/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- Tanna Ross' (Newburgh, Maine) three-pointer with just .4 seconds remaining in regulation broke a 57-57 tie and gave Maine (3-12, 1-0 America East) the 60-57 victory over the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (7-8, 1-1 AE) Sunday at Alfond Arena. Maine's America East Player of the Game, Ashleigh Roberts, (Wilmington, Del.) dropped in 14 points to go along with a career high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
Ali Nalivaika (Worcester, Mass.) had a solid game off the bench for Maine as she dropped in a career high 11 points to go along with seven rebounds. Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa.) had a great all around game as she produced 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Michelle Kurowski was named the America East Player of the Game for UMBC as she picked up a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Erin Brown added 16 points and five rebounds while Meghan Colabella finished in double-digits with 10 points and eight boards.
UMBC jumped out to a quick 4-0 start before Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) knocked down a three point shot with 17:01 to play in the first half to cut the lead to just one. The Black Bears would take their first lead of the contest when Roberts hit a layup, giving Maine the early 5-4 edge. After the Retrievers jumped back out to a three points lead, Vanderhoff would hit a three to tie things right back up with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half.
Maine would regain the lead on a fastbreak layup by Roberts which was followed up by a jumper from Smith. The Black Bears would lead 18-15 with 7:21 to play in the first half. With the two teams trading baskets for much of the end of the first half, Maine would gain a 25-23 lead on a three point basket with less than a minute to play. However, UMBC would rush the ball down the court and work the ball around the key before Brown knocked down a three to give UMBC a 26-25 lead heading into the half.
Roberts led the Black Bears in the first half with six points and eight rebounds while Brown paced the Retrievers with nine points and four boards.
The teams would trade hoops for the first five minutes of the second half before Maine got a pair of free throws by Roberts to take a 32-31 lead. The Black Bears would extend their lead to four on a layup by Nalivaika and a free throw by Roberts with 14:30 to play.
UMBC would work to tie things up with 11:12 to play on a layup by Kristin Coles. The Black Bears would then go on another run to pull ahead by six, 47-41, with Vanderhoff leading the charge by making a pair of free throws and then knocking down one of her two three point shots. After a short battle of baskets, Maine would gain their largest lead of the afternoon on a lay-in by Nalivaika, putting Maine up by seven, 50-43, with six minutes remaining.
UMBC would fight its way back into the game after cutting the Maine lead to just one, 55-54 with under a minute remaining. Smith would hit a key jumper with just four seconds remaining on the shot clock to give the Black Bears a three point lead. The Retrievers would rush the ball down the court as Kurowski would spot up and knocked down a three to tie things at 57 with under 20 seconds remaining. Out of a timeout, Vanderhoff would control the offense for Maine. Vanderhoff found Ross just to the left of the top of the key. Ross would nail a three pointer with a defender in her face to give Maine a 60-57 lead with just .4 seconds remaining. UMBC would not have time to get a shot off as Maine held on for a 60-57 America East victory.
The game featured much back and forth action as their were a total of 13 lead changes and seven ties in the game.
The Black Bears return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 12 when they welcome Albany to Alfond Arena at 7:30 p.m.
-U-M-
