University of Maine
Siena
Black Bears Fall at Home to Siena
12/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) tallied a career-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds as she was named Maine's America East Player of the Game while Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) added 10 points and five rebounds but the Siena Saints shot 49.2% from the field en route to a 78-51 victory over the Black Bears. The loss slips Maine back to 3-10 while the Saints improved to 2-7.
Siena had four players in double-figures as Lily Grenci led the way with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds while Cristina Centeno added 14 points and six assists.
The game started off on a rapid pace that included eight lead changes in the opening 12 minutes. The Black Bears took a five points lead early as it executed its offense well on back-to-back possessions leading to back-to-back baskets by Walczak. The two teams would battle back and forth for the next six minutes, trading hoops and leads, until Siena went on a 5-0 run to take a four point lead on a three pointer by Kanika Cummings.
Maine answered the run with a fastbreak lay-in by Baranowski after Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) controlled a defensive board and rushed down the court, hitting the senior forward underneath the hoop in transition for the bucket. With the Black Bears down by two and 8:34 remaining in the opening half, Maine forced a Siena turnover and capitalized as Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) hit Anderson with a nice pass and Anderson was able to knock down the three-ball to once again give Maine a one point edge, 22-21.
However, Siena would respond and take a four point lead and end the half on a 15-4 run to take a 43-28 lead into the half.
Anderson, Baranowski and Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) all tallied six points to lead Maine's attack in the first half while Maja Gerlyng led all scorers with 10 first half points.
Siena stretched its lead to 20 with 4:37 gone in the second half before Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) found Walczak with a nice pass that resulted in two points and a foul. Maine worked the ball down low to Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y.) on its next possession as the junior forward drew a foul and hit a free throw to cut the lead to 17.
The Saints answered with a 7-2 run over the next 3:14 to take a 59-35 lead with 11:36 remaining in the second half.
Maine would not go away quietly as a pair of free throws each by Knight and Baranowski chipped the lead back down to 21 with 6:20 to play.
Siena would take its biggest lead of the game as it broke out a 10-0 run, including seven points from Ida Krough, to take its biggest lead of the game 76-45 in the waning minutes of the contest.
Maine would continue to chip away as the lead would be cut to 26 on a three-pointer by Rachele Burns (Gorham, Maine) but the Saints eventually held on to take the game 78-51.
The Black Bears will now open America East Conference play as they will travel to take on Binghamton in the two teams' league opener on Monday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m.
-U-M-
