University of Maine
Vermont
Black Bears Battle Back, Defeat Vermont 65-56
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- Despite being down 10 early in the second half, the Black Bears defense would step up and turn 23 Vermont turnovers into 27 Black Bear points as Maine (4-22, 2-12 America East) defeated Vermont (5-23, 5-10 AE) 65-56 on Senior Day at Alfond Arena.
The Black Bears were led by their America East Player of the Game, Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa.) who tallied a game-high 17 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four assists. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) recorded a season high 11 points while Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) scored 10 points, her sixth straight game in double-figures. Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine) also chipped in double-figures with 10 points as she was 8-for-10 from the free throw line.
Vermont was led by its America East Player of the Game Tonya Young who recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Catamounts would jump out to a five point lead early in the first half but Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) would battle early down low, scoring the first five Maine points to keep the Black Bears within two after she banked in a layup, drawing a foul on the play, and making her free throw.
Maine would keep things close and take their first lead of the game with 10:35 to play in the first half after Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) made a steal and quickly moved the ball up court to Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) who hit the fastbreak layup to give the Black Bears a 17-16 edge.
Vanderhoff would grab one of her game-high six steals with 7:37 remaining in the half and was fouled on the play. The sophomore guard would hit both of her free throws to give Maine a four point lead, 23-19. The lead would build to six on a layup by Baranowski before Vermont would get back-to-back three pointers by Tory Dennerlein and Kristine Lalonde to regain a two point lead, 30-28, with 2:46 to play in the half. Vermont would continue its hot shooting streak with another three, this time by Kelli Hier and after a layup in the closing seconds by Lauren Buschmann, the Catamounts would take a 35-29 lead into halftime.
Roberts paced Maine in the first half with 10 points while Baranowski chipped in nine points and three rebounds. Tonya Young had the hot hand for Vermont in the opening half as she notched nine points and three rebounds.
Maine would keep the Vermont lead at six in the opening minute of the second half but after four free throws from Buschmann, the Black Bears would find themselves down by 10, 41-31, with 17:22 to play. The Black Bears would lock in from this point on and go on a 9-0 run that ended with a three from Williams to bring Maine back within one. Hier would answer for Vermont with a jumper in the paint but Vanderhoff would nail a three to tie things up at 43-43 with 13:05 to play.
The game would stay tight as the two teams traded baskets for the next 11 minutes. With the game tied at 55-55 with 2:50 remaining, Maine would start clicking and put together a 10-1 run down the stretch. Vanderhoff would score the final eight, unanswered points for the Black Bears to secure the 65-56 America East victory.
It was the final regular season home game for the Black Bears as a pre-game ceremony was held to honor Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine) for all of her accomplishments at the University of Maine over the past four years.
The Black Bears return to action when they travel to take on New Hampshire on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
-U-M-
