University of Maine
UNLV
Women's Basketball Downs UNLV in Subway Classic, 74-67
11/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (1-3) defeated UNLV (1-2) by a score of 74-67 in the opening round of the Subway Classic on Saturday afternoon to grab its first victory of the season. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) led the way for Maine with 16 points and nine rebounds while Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) added 14 points and seven rebounds. Liz Wood (Catlett, Va.) went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc en route to a 12 point afternoon.
Kellie Thompson paced teh UNLV attack with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Aleana Cesarz added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Maine shot 41.9% from the field including a 52.4% (11-21) mark from three-point land as it held the Lady Rebels to 28.8% shooting while forcing 25 UNLV turnovers.
The Black Bears opened the contest by going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc while holding UNLV to a slim 19.4% field goal mark in the opening half en route to taking a four-point lead into the halftime break.
Maine and UNLV engaged in an evenly played, back and forth match for the majority of the opening half as each team traded baskets for the opening 10-minutes of play until the Black Bears broke out on a 5-0 run to take an 18-13 lead. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) started the run with a layup in the lane before Roberts made a pair of free throws. The Black Bears took control on the defensive end and rushed out, ending the play with a fastbreak bucket from Mikaela Gustafsson (Sodertalje, Sweden) to put Maine up by five with five to play in the opening half.
After a pair of makes from the Lady Rebels, Anderson answerd by knocking down a three from the top of the key. Two more free throws from Roberts gave Maine its biggest lead of the first half at 23-17.
A smal 4-0 run from UNLV brought the Lady Rebels back within two before the Black Bears worked the ball around the perimeter on offense until Gustafsson's quick release from beyond the arc netted a three-pointer as Maine entered the half leading 26-22.
Roberts paced the Maine first half scoring with six points along with Wood who hit two early back-to-back three pointers in half. The Black Bears forced 14 UNLV turnovers in the opening half while shooting 31.0% from the field.
The Lady Rebels cut the Maine lead to just three to start the second half before Maine broke out on a 12-6 run to take a 43-32. Milica Mitrovic's (Belgrade, Serbia) hot shooting hand kept the Maine attack going as she knocked down a trio of three pointers over a six minutes span to give the Black Bears their biggest lead of the day, 51-38 midway through the second half.
UNLV challenged Maine as it brought the game back within six on an 8-2 run spearheaded from six points by Kelli Thompson. A pair of fastbreak baskets from Roberts put an end to the Lady Revel run and regained a 10-point edge for the Black Bears.
UNLV kept the pressure on by Walczak knocked down seven points in the final two minutes to keep the Black Bears on top as Maine grabbed its first victory of the season, downing UNLV 74-67.
Maine will face Minnesota tomorrow at 1 PM in the Subway Classic championship.
-U-M-
