University of Maine
Navy
Black Bears Downed by Navy, 73-56
12/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Black Bears ran into a hot shooting Navy squad on Saturday afternoon as the Midshipmen shot 53.2% from the field, including 12-for-22 from beyond the arc, en route to a 73-56 victory. Samantha Wheeler (Derry, N.H.) led the Black Bears, narrowly missing a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) also had 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting and was named to the Navy Classic All-Tournament team.
Navy jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage as it started the contest 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, powered by Chey Arvin's six points from deep range, as the Midshipmen went on a 10-0 run after Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) gave the Black Bears an early edge.
Maine would respond with a 10-4 run, capped by Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) who spotted up and knocked down a three from the top of the key to bring Maine with two at 14-12 midway through the first half.
Navy would gain its biggest lead of the afternoon, an eight point edge with 5:49 to play in the opening half after it broke out on a 10-2 run over a span of 2:34. The Midshipmen's lead would stand at 27-16 on a three by Kara Pollinger before Wheeler broke up the run with a pair of free throws.
Maine would go on a short 4-0 run to cut into the lead before Pollinger hit another three to give Navy a 10 point lead. The lead would be extended to 11 before Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) ended the half with a jumper to cut the lead to nine at the half, 34-25.
Baranowski paced the Maine attack in the first half with six points on 3-for-4 shooting and a pair of rebounds while Pollinger led all scorers with 11 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field including a pair of threes.
Navy would open up the second half with a 14-4 run, fueled on treys by Pollinger and Arvin to take a 48-29 lead early in the half.
With 9:08 remaining in the second half, the Black Bears would put some pressure on the Navy offense as it would attack the ball with a full court press, resulting in a 5-0 run to close the lead to 60-43. Wheeler would force a steal right under the hoop and lay it in before the Black Bears got the ball back, working it inside to Baranowski. Baranowski would make a beautiful turn around lay in and Anderson's free throw would close the run for Maine.
The Black Bears would keep battling as Wheeler kicked the ball outside to Williams who knocked dwon the three to pull Maine within 15, forcing Navy into a timeout. Anderson would keep the Midshipmen within 15 as she capitalized off a Navy turnover, laying the ball up and off glass with 3:04 left in the second half.
Navy would go on a bit of a run as Pollinger knocked down her career-high 24th point of the game to put the Midshipmen up 19, 73-54. Williams would close out the game with a lay-in on the baseline as Navy would take the victory 73-56.
Maine returns home as it hosts James Madison on Thursday, Dec. 8th at 6 p.m. at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gym.
-U-M-
