University of Maine
Stony Brook
Women's Basketball Falls in Battle at Stony Brook, 66-62
2/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- Despite a strong comeback late in the second half by the Maine women's basketball team, the Black Bears (3-22, 1-12 AE) would fall to the Stony Brook Seawolves (5-19, 2-10 AE) by a score of 66-62. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) was named America East Player of the Game for the Black Bears as she scored 17 points, inclduing 13 in the second half, to pace the Black Bears. Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) also tallied double-digits for Maine with 11.
Kirsten Jeter was named the Seawolves' America East Player of the Game as she tallied a game-high 26 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven steals.
Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine) would get things going early as she knocked down an early three to give Maine a 3-0 lead. After a pair of Stony Brook baskets, Roberts would draw a foul and knock down both shots to regain the lead for the Black Bears.
Stony Brook would piece together a 6-0 run over the next four minutes, fueled by a flurry of offensive boards and four points by Jeter to build a 10-5 advantage. The Black Bears would fight back out of a timeout as Smith knocked down a three from the top of the key. Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) would then force a steal and after a lay-in off the right block by Ali Nalivaika (Worcester, Mass.), the game would once again be tied, 10-10, with 10:48 remaining in the first half.
The Seawolves would go on 10-2 run over a 1:27 span, building their lead to 20-12 with 8:03 to play. Sam Landers and Talisha Bridges would each knock down a pair of free throws during the run to keep the Seawolves perfect from the line in the first half. Maine would get it back to a four point game, 22-18, on a nice post move through the paint by Samantha Baranowski (Standhope, N.J.) with 6:40 to play in the opening stanza.
Another Stony Brook run would result in a 28-20 lead after Jeter knocked down a jumper and a pair of free throws with 3:50 to play in the half. Smith would bring Maine back within four with 1:40 to play after she cashed in on a four-point play when she was fouled after hitting a three from the right, extended elbow. However, Stony Brook would re-build their eight point lead on a pair of jumpers by Gerda Gatling. Jeter's free throw with 8.7 seconds remaining in the half would give the Seawolves a 35-26 lead at the break.
Smith led the Black Bears in the first half with nine points including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. The Black Bears shot 9-for-10 from the charity stripe and 7-for-20 from the field. Jeter led the way for Stony Brook with 15 points and four rebounds. The Seawolves were 11-for-36 from the field and 13-for-16 from the foul line in the first half.
The teams would trade hoops in the opening of the second half before Stony Brook would gain a 46-33 advantage on a dribble-drive and lay-in off glass by Landers. The Seawolves would build off the lay-in when they forced a turnover that led to a 6-0 run on a fastbreak layup by Jeter to extend the lead to 17, 50-33, with 11:55 to play in the half. Roberts would put an end to the run with a nice drive through the lane that drew a foul. Roberts would hit one of two free throws to end the four minute Seawolves' run. Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y.) kept the Maine run going when she worked on the post, laying the ball in, drawing a foul and completing the three point play. Katelyn Vanderhoff (Littiz, Pa.) would force a steal and move the ball up to Roberts who bounced through the lane and drew a foul. Roberts would hit both free throws to bring Maine within 12, 51-49. Maine would have the ball out of a timeout and work the ball around the perimeter to Williams who hit a deep two to cut the lead to 10 with 7:20 to play in regulation. After a Stony Brook free throw, Ross would nail a three from the left corner to bring Maine within nine.
The Black Bears would continue to battle as Roberts hit a tough lay-in that was followed by another three from the top of the key by Ross to cut the Seawolve lead to just five, 61-56, with 2:21 to play. Great defense from the Black Bears would pay off in another two from Roberts on a well executed out of bounds play with 24.0 to play. However, Stony Brook would cash in on some clutch free throw shooting to close out the game and take the victory 66-62.
The Black Bears will not play again until they welcome Vermont to Alfond Arena for Maine's pink zone game on senior day at Alfond Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
-U-M-
