University of Maine
Boston U.
Late Rally By Black Bears Falls Short Against Boston University
2/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball outscored the top team in America East, Boston Univesrity, 53-39 in the final 30 minutes of the contest Tuesday night at Alfond Arena but could not complete the comeback as the Black Bears fell to Boston University, 71-59. The loss drops Maine back to 3-19 overall and 1-9 in America East play while the Terriers improved to 13-9 and 10-0 in league play. Maine was led by its America East Player of the Game, Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa.) who provided 35 minutes off the bench while tallying 13 points and six rebounds.
The Black Bears had three scorers in double-figures as Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) and Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) each also tallied 13 points. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) led the way for Maine on the boards as she pulled down seven rebounds to go along with her eight points.
The Terriers were led by their America East Player of the Game, Chantell Alford, who poured in 28 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Alex Young also scored in double-figures with 22 points including six three pointers. Kerry Cashman pulled down a game-high 13 boards for the Terriers.
The Black Bears found themselves in a quick hole as Boston University came out on fire, starting the game on a 12-0 run in the first 4:07 of the contest, fueled by eight points by Young. After a jumper by Ali Nalivaika (Worcester, Mass.), the Terriers would build their lead to 26 with 9:34 to play in the first half as Alford scored 12 points with four three pointers to build the Terrier lead to 32-6.
There would be no quit in the Black Bears as Maine would start to chip away at the Terrier lead when Smith knocked down a three pointer. The Black Bears defense would tighten and Maine would build off the momentum to cut the lead to 15 when Vanderhoff knocked down a big three off a Terrier turnover with 4:29 to play in the half. The teams would trade hoops for the remainder of the half before Boston University got a late jumper from Alford to send the game to the break with the Terriers on top, 40-23.
Maine was led in the first half by Vanderhoff's five points off the bench while Roberts notched three points and five rebounds. Alford paced Boston University in the half with 16 points including a 4-for-7 shooting performance from behind the arc.
The Terriers would open the half by building their lead back up to 22 before Maine would go on a 12-1 run over a five minute span to cut the lead to just 11. The Black Bears would force Boston University to take some tough shots as Maine would capitalize with some clutch defensive rebounds in the run. Vanderhoff kick started the run with a jumper off a nice feed from Roberts before drawing a foul on the next Maine possession and knocking down a pair of free throws. Roberts would then snag a rebound and race down the court, laying the ball off the glass and through the cylinder while drawing a foul. Roberts would hit her free throw to bring Maine within 15, 45-30. After a Terrier free-throw by Caroline Stewart, Roberts would hit a jumper in the paint followed a few seconds later by a free throw from the freshman. Following an offensive foul by Stewart, Roberts would hit another layup to bring Maine within 11, 46-35, with 12:48 to play in the second half.
After trading baskets, Maine would continue their run, capitalizing on three Terrier turnovers. Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) would lay-in a put back off an offensive rebound. Next time down the floor for Maine, Baranowski would pull down an offensive board, draw the foul, and hit a pair of free throws. Smith would then come up with a steal and quickly push the ball down the court, laying in the fast break layup. After a Terrier timeout, Young would throw the ball away and Maine would once again capitalize as Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.) hit a jumper to bring Maine all the way back and only down three, 50-47.
After a short 4-0 run by Boston University, Maine would once again respond with back-to-back jumpers from Vanderhoff to once again cut the lead to just three with 5:48 to play. The Black Bears would hold strong and fight but the Terriers would end the game on a 17-8 run to lock up the win, 71-59.
The Black Bears held Boston University to just 26.7% shooting in the second half while Maine shot 46.4% in the closing half. The Black Bears bench outscored Boston University's bench by a 30-2 margin on the night.
Maine returns to action when it travels to battle UMBC on Saturday at 12 p.m.
-U-M-
