University of Maine
Massachusetts
Maine Fails to Overcome Early Deficit at UMass
12/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team found itself in a deep hole, down 20 points in the second half on Sunday afternoon at UMass. The Black Bears were able to battle back, outscoring the Minutewomen 38-35 in the second half while fighting to within nine but ran out of time late as they fell 63-54 to the Minutewomen at the Mullins Center. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) led the way for Maine as she scored all 10 of her points in the second half while adding five rebounds.
Emilie Teuscher tallied a game-high 18 points on 4-for-7 shooting from behind the arc to lead the Minutewomen attack which saw four scorers tally double-figures. The loss slips Maine back to 3-7 on the season while UMass improves to 2-8.
The Minutewomen built a 15 point lead over the opening 15:00 of play, powered by a trio of three pointers by Teuscher as UMass shot 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in the opening half. The Black Bears would chip away at the early deficit as Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) drove hard in the lane and made a nice layup for two of her career-high nine points to go along with seven rebounds. Wheeler followed with a free throw before the Black Bears forced a turnover and raced down the court, ending with a Knight layup while the freshman also drew a foul to bring Maine with 12, 25-13 with 1:14 remaining in the half.
Another three would push the Minutewomen lead once again to 15. Maine would end the half strong on a 3-0 run started with a made free throw by Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.). The Black Bears would regain the ball with seconds left, as Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) drove down the court, weaving through the Minutewomen defense and laying the ball up and off glass for two to bring Maine within 12 at the half.
UMass opened the second half on a 9-1 run, powered by a three by Megan Zullo, to extend its lead to 37-17 2:29 into the second half.
Maine battled to cut into the UMass lead midway through the second half. Wheeler kept a possession alive for the Black Bears with an offensive board, kicking the ball to Roberts who slashed with a nice take to the rack for two. The Black Bears would then utilize a nice out of bounds play as Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) found Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) under the hoop for an easy lay-in. Wheeler then hit a shot in the lane to bring the score to 43-26 with 11:47 to play in the half.
The Black Bears continued to battle as Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) made an completed an old fashioned three point play before Wheeler forced a Minutewomen turnover resulting in a jumper by Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) to cut the lead to 15, 46-31, jump starting a 9-2 run for the Black Bears.
Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, N.Y.) kept the Maine come back rolling as she knocked down the Black Bears' first three of the game to make the UMass lead 14. Smith drew a charge for the Black Bears that would result in a pair of made free throws by Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) as Maine fought back within 12.
After each team tallied baskets, Roberts would penetrate the lane again with a nice slash and reverse layup to cut the lead to just 11 with 2:15 to play. A step back three by Mattice sliced the UMass lead within single digits but the Minutewomen were able to run out the clock, taking the win 63-54.
The Black Bears return to action on Dec. 20th as they will travel to take part in the Gator Holiday Classic hosted by the University of Florida. Maine will battle Duquesne on the opening day of the tournament with a 4:30 p.m. start scheduled.
-U-M-
