University of Maine
Clemson
Women's Basketball Hands Clemson 75-42 Drubbing
12/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (9-4) won its 11th-straight home game in convincing fashion as it defeated Clemson (3-8) by a score of 75-42 on Friday evening. The 33 point victory was the largest margin of victory for any America East school over an ACC opponent in the history of the league.
Sigi Koizar led all scorers with 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting to go along with four assists. For Koizar, it was her fourth time this season scoring 20+ points. Liz Wood chipped in her 20th career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds while Sophie Weckstrom knocked down a trio of 3-pointers on her way to a 15 point showing.
For Maine, it is the first time in history that it tallied back-to-back 30+ point victories and the first time it has defeated two school's from power conference in the same year since defeating Wake Forest and Rutgers in 1989.
Maine shot 57% from the floor for the second-straight game, going 27-for-47 from the field and 8-for-16 from 3-point range. Maine outrebounded Clemson 37-21 and assists on 19 of its 27 buckets.
The Black Bears created some separation from Clemson late in the first quarter as they put together a 9-0 run, capped on a 3-pointer from Weckstrom, to build the lead out to nine. Koizar's 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter gave Maine a 20-13 lead after one.
Clemson cut the lead down to five with 4:27 to play in the first half but the Tigers would not score again in the second quarter. Maine closed the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 33-20 lead into the break.
Maine remained hot to start the second half as five-straight from Mikaela Gustafsson opened the third quarter. The Black Bears carried their 8-0 run from the end of the second half and grew the sprint to a 19-0 segment, holding Clemson scoreless over a 10:35 second span. Following the run, the Black Bears led by 25, 44-20.
The Black Bears' offensive fire continued as they closed the third quarter on an 11-2 run as Lauren Bodine's late 3-pointer put Maine on top 55-24 after three quarters.
Maine distanced itself with a 22-4 advantage in total in the third period.
The lead never dipped below 27 in the fourth quarter as Koizar's late layup gave Maine its largest lead of the game, 75-42, which would prove to be the final.
Maine continues action when it travels to take on Purdue on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
-UMaine-
