University of Maine
New Brunswick
Black Bears Use Strong Second Half to Defeat New Brunswick, 78-62
10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team showcased its 2011-12 squad for the first time in competitive action on Sunday afternoon when it defeated visiting New Brunswick 78-62 in an exhibition contest. The Black Bears were led by Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.) who tallied a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) and Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y.) each poured in 13 points.
The Black Bears started play on an eight-two run in the opening minutes of the first half. After the Varsity Reds tied things at 2-2, Maine would stage a 6-0 run powered by a jumper by Maner. The Black Bears would regain possession and push the floor, ending with a lay-in by Roberts. Roberts would then knock down a pair of free throws on Maine's next possession to give the Black Bears an early 8-2 edge.
The teams would battle as New Brunswick mounted a comeback when Rachel Cleary hit a jumper off an assist by Megan Corby to bring the Varsity Reds' within a point, 14-13, with 8:54 remaining in the first half. The teams would trade hoops until Maine again went on a run, extending its lead to eight when Maner picked up an offensive rebound and hit a nice turn around jumper in the lane with 1:42 remaining in the half. Colleen Daly's basket with 35 seconds to play in the half would cut the Maine lead to five entering the half at 31-26.
Roberts paced the Black Bears in the first half as she had a first half high of eight points to go along with three rebounds and a pair of assists.
New Brunswick opened the second half by knocking down a pair of three pointers on its first two possessions to cut the Maine lead to just two. The Black Bears would respond quickly as they would regain a seven point lead with 17:09 to play in the second half after Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) broke out on a fastbreak and laid the ball off the glass and in. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) would keep the run alive as she drew a foul and hit a shot from the charity stripe. After a Varsity Red turnover, the Black Bears would work the ball down low to Wellington who dropped in a bucket to give Maine a 39-32 lead.
Maine kept the pressure on and turned it up a notch over the next 10 minutes as it would use a 11-2 run to snag a comfortable 67-50 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the second half. New Brunswick would cut into the lead with a pair of free throws from Claire Colborne but the Black Bears would not give in as they Dillon would push the ball right back down the floor, working a pass inside to Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) who hit a jumper to keep Maine's lead at 17. The Black Bears would keep charging as Roberts knocked down a pair of free throws late, giving the Black Bears their biggest lead of the contest, 74-52, with 3:40 to play. New Brunswick would cut into the Maine lead a bit but the Black Bears would hold on, taking the contest 78-62.
The Black Bears open up the regular season at Central Conn. State with a 7 p.m. match-up on Friday, Nov. 11.
-U-M-
