University of Maine
James Madison
Wheeler's 18 Not Enough as Maine Falls to James Madison 64-47
12/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- Samantha Wheeler (Derry, N.H.) scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half but James Madison remained tough down the stretch as the Dukes would defeat Maine 64-47. The loss drops the Black Bears back to 3-6 while JMU improves to 6-1 overall. Wheeler was named the America East Player of the Game for her efforts.
Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) chipped in eight points and seven rebounds as the Black Bears shot 81.3% from the free throw line, behind Wheeler's eight-for-eight night, while also holding the edge in rebounding, 46-44. Maine played a strong second half as the Dukes and Maine each tallied 30 second half points
Maine would find itself down 18 midway through the first half after the Dukes put together a 7-0 run and followed that up with a 6-0 run on a pair of jumpers by Debbie Smith and a lay-in by Jasmine Gill to lead 26-8 with 8:49 to play in the first half.
The Black Bears would respond out of a media timeout, cutting the lead to 15 on a pair of free throws by Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) and one by Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.). After Lauren Whitehurst scored on a fastbreak layup, the Black Bears would go on a extended, four-minute 4-0 run to cut the Dukes lead to 13, 28-15. Maine started the run when it forced a Gill turnover and went the other way, working the ball inside to Baranowski who laid the ball up and in. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) then pulled down a defensive board and broke out the other way, finding Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) for the jumper to cut the lead to 13 with 2:14 to play in the opening half.
The Dukes would work the lead back to 17, 34-17 at the half. Baranowski's eight first half points paced the Black Bears while Gill's nine led the Dukes opening half attack.
Maine would come out of the half and immediately break out a 6-0 run. Baranowski made a nice pass to a cutting Wheeler who laid the ball up and off glass to start the streak. Wheeler then fought inside on Maine's next trip down the court, pulling down an offensive board and going right back up strong for two more points. The lead would be cut to 11 when Wheeler drove hard to the hoop, drawing a foul and knocking down two of her perfect 8-for-8 day from the free throw line to bring Maine back within 11, 34-23 just 3:17 into the half.
Maine would hold tough as the lead would be just 12 with 10:58 to play in the second half. The Dukes started to pull away a bit more after a pair of free throws and a bucket by Tarik Hislop gave JMU an 18 point edge with 4:39 remaining in the half. The Black Bears would keep fighting, trying to tighten things up late but JMU would hold on, taking the 64-47 victory.
The Black Bears return to action as it travels to battle UMass on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m.
-U-M-
