University of Maine
Boston U.
Strong Effort Falls Short as #8 Maine Falls to #1 Boston University in Quarterfinal Action, 52-43
3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Coach Barron Postgame Press Conference
Brittany Williams and Courtney Anderson address the media
W. HARTFORD, Conn. -- Despite a strong effort in Friday's quarterfinal matchup, the #8 Black Bears' season came to an end with a 52-43 loss to #1 Boston University. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) led Maine with a career-high 13 points while Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) chipped in eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) and Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) each added seven points. Chantell Alford led the Terrier's with a game-high 18 points including an eight-for-eight day from the free throw line.
Much of the first half featured solid defensive efforts on both ends as each team struggled to score early on. Boston University got their offense started first as the Terriers ran off an 9-2 run to take an 11-4 lead midway through the first half.
The Black Bears responded as they would break out on a 5-0 run over the next couple minutes to cut the Terrier lead to just two with 8:52 to play in the half. Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) started the run as she pulled down one of Maine's seven first half offensive boards. The freshman controlled the ball on the low block and went back up strong for two. Next time down the floor, the Black Bears worked a baseline out of bounds play to get Williams an open look from behind the arc. Williams knocked down the shot from the right corner bringing Maine within two at 11-9.
A 7-3 Terrier run over the next 2:56, led by a three from senior guard Mo Moran, gave Boston University a six point lead with 5:48 to play in the first half. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half before a three from Alford gave the Terriers their biggest lead of the half, 23-14. Anderson's nice dribble-drive around the perimeter and through the lane for two cut the Terrier lead to seven, 23-16, at the half.
Anderson came out of the locker room with the hot hand as she hit Maine's first three jumpers. However, Boston University would match the shots on back-to-back threes from Moran and Alford to maintain a seven point edge.
Anderson kept the hot hand rolling as she scored 11 of Maine's first six second half points, fueling an 11-4 Black Bear run that would end in Maine knotting things up at 33-all. Anderson started the Maine run with a quick jumper. After an Alford jumper on the other end, the Black Bears worked the offense, getting Williams an open look for two. A Terrier free throw by Alex Young brought the Terrier lead to eight.
Maine again went to work, swinging the ball around the perimeter until Anderson knocked down a three from just right of the top of the key. The Black Bears pulled down a rebound on the other end and immediately got the ball out to Williams who raced down court for a fastbreak layup. After another Terrier free throw, Baranowski knocked down a jupmer from the right elbow to cut the lead to just two. Anderson's floater in the lane on Maine's next possession knotted things up at 33-all with 12:21 to play in the half.
Alford's six-straight free throws gave the Terriers a three point lead before a three from Young extended the Boston University lead to six, 44-38 with 5:27 to play. An 8-2 run extend the Terrier lead to 10 with 1:37 to play after a fastbreak layup from Alford. Baranowski added a free throw in the closing seconds but Maine would run out of time, dropping the quarterfinal 52-43.
The Black Bears end the 2011-12 season at 8-23 overall, doubling their win total from a year ago, and finishing at 4-12 in league play. The Black Bears also picked up their first tournament victory since 2006.
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