University of Maine
Duquesne
Maine Falls to Duquesne in Opening Round of Gator Holiday Classic
12/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team ran into a Duquesne team made up of fierce defensive pressure and a solid offensive attack as the Dukes defeated Maine 76-38 in the opening round of the Gator Holiday Classic. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) paced Maine with six points, three rebounds and three assists as the Black Bears slip back to 3-8 overall while Duquesne improves to 10-1.
The Dukes used 34 points off turnovers and 14 fastbreak scores to build their runs as Alex Gensler led the Duquesne attack with 15 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field. Duquesne had four scorers in double-figures. The Maine defense recorded seven steals paced by Rebecca Knight's (Alfred, Maine) solid game of six points, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
The Dukes broke out on an 8-0 run midway through the first half to give them a 15 point edge, 25-10, on back-to-back layups by Carly Vendemia. The Black Bears were quick to answer as Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, N.Y.) dribbled through the Duquesne defense, working her way into the paint and laying the ball up and off glass while drawing the foul. After Mattice knocked down the free throw, the Black Bears capitalized on their next possession as Knight made a nice move on the block, hitting the turn around lay-in off an offensive rebound as Maine worked its way back within 10, 25-15.
Another run by the Dukes would see their lead increase to 19 before Maine staged a 4-0 run to end the half. Anderson kick started the run as she dribbled off a screen set by Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) and hit a jumper off the right elbow. The Black Bears would continue to fight as they would set up a play with second left in the first half. Maine worked the ball to Knight at the top of the key. The freshman guard put the ball on the floor, making a nice between the legs cross over and spinning through the lane, laying the ball in to cut the Dukes lead to 38-23 entering the break.
Knight paced the first half Black Bear attack with six points and three rebounds while Wumi Agunbiade netted seven points to go along with four rebounds for the Dukes.
Duquesne would continue its offensive attack as it started the second half with a 24-11 run to take a 62-34 lead midway into the period as Alex Gensler tallied nine points in the opening ten minutes of the half.
The Black Bears would continue to battle as they worked the ball around to Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) who hit a jumper on the low block. However, Duquesne's offense and defensive pressure would prove to be too much to handle as the Dukes took the 76-38 victory.
Maine will return to action in day two of the Gator Holiday Classic as it will face the loser of the Charleston Southern and Florida game.
-U-M-
