University of Maine
Hartford
Black Bears Battle Back but Fall in the End to Hartford, 62-49
2/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (3-21, 1-11 AE) would battle their way back into the game on multiple occasions against the visiting Hartford Hawks (10-14,7-4 AE) but in the end Hartford would pull away and pick up the 62-49 victory over the Black Bears to take the season series. Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) led the way for Maine with her 14th career double-digit scoring performance as she was named Maine's America East Player of the Game with a game-high 17 points, four rebounds and three steals on a 7-for-9 shooting night from the field.
Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) chipped in her second straight 10 point, nine rebound performance while Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y.) came off the bench with 24 solid minutes while scoring five points and pulling down seven rebounds.
Ilicia Mathis was named Hartford's America East Player of the game as she led the Hawks in scoring with 12 points. Alex Hall had a solid all around game for Hartford as she scored eight points to go along with her eight rebounds.
Hartford would jump out to a quick 4-0 advantage after Hall hit a jumper following a defensive board by Ruthanne Doherty who quickly moved the ball down the floor. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) would get the Black Bears on the board when she hit a baseline jumper. Maine would tie things up 2:59 into the first half when Roberts layed the ball off the glass and through the hoop.
The Hawks would once again build a four-point lead before Smith knocked down a three to bring Maine back within a point. Hartford would again go on a mini-run over the next 2:27 on a pair of three pointers by Mary Silvia and Amanda Weaver, building their lead to 14-7 midway through the first half before Baranowski would once again put a stop to a Hawk run with a nice turn around jumper from the baseline.
Hartford would build their lead to nine with 3:55 to play in the first on another three by Silvia. The Black Bears would fight back as Roberts got the ball amongst a crowd in the paint but was able to battle her way through with a nice up-and-under lay-in. After a pair of free throws by Mathis built the Hawk lead back to seven, Smith would hit a jumper with just three-seconds remaining in the first half to bring the Black Bears within five heading into the break.
Smith led the Black Bears with 11 points in the first half while Roberts chipped in with four points, including the 250th of her career, and a team-high five rebounds. Hartford was led by Taylor Clark and Silvia's six points.
The Hawks would extend their lead on a few different occasions to nine points in the early stages of the second half but the Black Bears would keep fighting back, cutting the lead to 42-38 on a pair of free throws by Smith midway through the second half. However, the Hawks would go on an extended run over the next 5:39 and after a three from Mathis which she followed up with a jumper, the Black Bears would find themselves down 14 with 5:45 to play in the half.
Maine would certainly not go down quietly. The Black Bears would rally for a pair of quick buckets as Roberts would work her way into the paint and toss a tough shot off glass that found its way down through the cylinder. After Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa.) pulled down a defensive board, the Black Bears would go back on the attack. Maine would battle inside, pulling down a pair of offensive rebounds, before Wellington would cash in with a lay up to bring Maine within 10. After a Hawk hoop by Taylor Clark, Wellington would draw a foul and knock down both free throws to keep Maine within 10 with 2:09 to play in the half.
However, the Hawks would go on another 4-0 run and extend their lead to 14, 62-48. Wellington would make another free throw with three-seconds remaining but the Black Bears would fall to Hartford, 62-49.
Maine returns to action when it travels to battle Stony Brook on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
-U-M-
