University of Maine
Charleston So.
Maner Tallies Career-High but Black Bears Fall to Charleston Southern
12/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Black Bears would open its finale at the Gator Holiday Classic with a solid opening of the first half before falling behind after Charleston Southern staged one of its few big runs of the game. Maine was unable to close the gap in the second half as it dropped the contest to the Buccaneers 78-63. Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.) tallied a career-high 13 points while pulling down eight rebounds to lead the Black Bears. Maine falls to 3-9 overall while Charleston Southern improves to 7-4.
Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) was solid in all aspects of the game with five points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the finale while playing a career-high 38 minutes. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) also totaled double-figures for the Black Bears for the 27th time in her career with 10 points.
Rachelle Coward led the Buccaneer attack as she shot 10-for-17 from the field, including knocking down six three-pointers for a 30 point performance with eight boards.
A 7-0 run for the Buccaneers midway through the first half erased an early Black Bear lead, giving Charleston Southern a 17-9 advantage after a deep three and a fastbreak layup. Maine answered the early threat with a 6-2 run of its own. The Black Bears were patient in its offense, working to find the open player as Knight beat the press by finding Maner underneath the basket with a baseball pass from midcourt. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) knocked down a short jumper before assisting on Maine's next hoop by finding Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) on a roll to the hoop for two, bringing the Black Bears within four at 17-13.
Another 7-1 run by the Buccaneers was haulted by a three point shot by Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) off a nice kick from the paint by Knight. Maine continued its run as Walczak ripped down an offensive board and went right back up strong, bringing Maine back within five, 24-19.
The Buccaneers staged a 14-6 run to end the half, powered by a pair of treys by Coward, to take a 38-25 advantage into halftime.
Walczak paced the Black Bears' first half attack with five points and five rebounds while Coward tallied 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting with five rebounds.
Charleston Southern built on its lead in the early going of the second half as its lead would reach 20 on a deep three by Coward.
Maine continued to chip away at the Buccaneer lead as it started pressuring the ball full court which turned into back-to-back buckets for Maner, putting the junior in double figures for the second time this season with 10. After a three by Coward, Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) knocked down a jumper off the left elbow before Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) matched the jumper with one of her own before hitting a pair of free throws on Maine's next possession, cutting the lead to 62-48 with 7:48 to play.
The teams would trade hoops the rest of the way as the Black Bears were just unable to stage another run to close the gap, dropping their finale at the Gator Holiday Classic, 78-63.
Maine will return to action following the Holiday break as it will return to Orono to host Siena at Alfond Arena on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets visit the Black Bear ticket office or dial 581-BEAR (2327) or toll-free at 1-800-756-8326.
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