University of Maine
Binghamton
Baranowski Tallies Career-High 20 Points as Maine Downs Binghamton 48-47
1/28/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- A solid defensive effort and some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, paired with a career-high 20 points from Maine America East Player of the Game in Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) provided the spark the Black Bears would need as Maine defeated Binghamton 48-47 on Saturday afternoon. The win moves Maine to 6-16 overall and 3-6 in league action while the Bearcats fall to 10-12, 4-5 in America East play.
Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) provided a stellar effort in all aspects of the game as the freshman totaled six points, five rebonuds, three assists and a steal while Brittany Williams added nine points, including a pair of big three-point shots, to go along with four rebounds.
Andrea Holmes paced the Bearcat attack with 14 points and five rebounds on a 5-for-19 shooting night, earning her Binghamton's America East Player of the Game nod.
The Black Bears turned in arguably one of their best defensive efforts of the season, holding the Bearcats to just 29.0% from the field and a 16.7% mark from beyond the arc while also forcing 12 Binghamton turnovers and tallying eight steals.
In a back and forth contest that featured four ties and nine lead changes, the Black Bears found themselves in a hole early as Viive Rebane hit a jumper with 9:54 remaining in the first half to give the Bearcats its largest lead of the game 13-5.
A 6-0 run on back-to-back jumpers by Baranowski brought Maine right back into the contest before the senior forward found Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) on the elbow for a basket to close the Black Bears within two with 5:14 to play in the half.
With the Bearcats back up by five, Maine staged 6-0 to take a one point lead on a jumper by Knight. However, with just one second left on the clock, Vaneeshia Paulk's layup gave the Bearcats a 19-18 advantage at the half.
The game stayed tight for much of the first ten minutes of the second half before, while trailing by three, the Black Bears busted out a 7-0 run to take a four point lead with 10:16 to play in the second half. The run started when Knight's pass found an open Baranowski on the low block for two. After a fastbreak layup by Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) off a steal, Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) found Williams on the left wing. The senior guard knocked down the three-point ball to give Maine a 33-29 edge.
Binghamton tied things up on a pair of free throws by Jasbriell Swain before Maine scored on back-to-back possessions. Baranowski again had a hand in the 5-0 Maine run with a jumper before Williams knocked down another big three-pointer, running the Maine lead to five with three minutes to play.
Anderson, Baranowski and Roberts each knocked down a pair of free throws down the stretch as Baranowski again came up big with a huge offensive board with down the stretch to help secure the lead for Maine. A three-pointer by Holmes with no time left brought the Bearcats within one but it would be too late as Maine snatched the 48-47 win.
The Black Bears return to action on Feb. 4 when they travel to battle UMBC. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Alumnae weekend rolls on as the Black Bears alumnae will suit up once again and battle inside The Pit tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Fans are invited to come take in the action and cheer for their favorite former Black Bear greats.
-U-M-
