University of Maine
UMass Lowell
Women's Basketball Wins 10th-Straight, Downs UMass Lowell 74-46
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LOWELL, Mass. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (18-6, 10-1 America East) picked up its 10th-straight win on Wednesday evening as it defeated UMass Lowell (10-14, 4-8 AE) by a score of 74-46 at the Costello Athletic Center. Liz Wood (Catlett, Va.) led all scorers with 21 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
At one point early in the first half, the contest was tied at 16-16. Maine's defensive pressure and high-efficiency offense took over as it put together a 54-16 run to take a commanding 70-32 lead. Maine's offense shot went 31-for-52 in the game (59.6%) while it held the River Hawks to a slim 29.4% (15-for-51) from the floor. The Black Bears dominated play down low as it held a 36-22 rebounding advantage and outscored the River Hawks 38-18 in the paint.
Maine featured four scorers in double-figures, led by Wood's 21 as the junior forward scored in double-figures for the 57th time in her career, and the 13th time recording 20+ in a contest. Wood finished the game 10-for-15 from the floor. Chantel Charles (London, UK) added 12 along with Lauren Bodine (Louisville, Ky.) who went 4-for-4 from behind the arc. Mikaela Gustafsson (Sodertalje, Sweden) closed Maine's double-figure efforts with 10 points and added five rebounds.
A quick offensive pace was set early on as Maine and UMass Lowell traded the lead seven times in the opening 7:17 of play. However, the Black Bears would hold UMass Lowell to just six points over the last 9:23 of the first half to take a commanding lead into the half.
With the game tied at 16-all, Maine staged an 18-4 run to extend its lead out to 14 with 6:59 left in the first half. Bodine keyed the Black Bear sprint as she knocked down back-to-back deep 3-pointers to help build the advantage.
UMass Lowell's Kayla Gibbs broke the run with a jumper but it didn't slow the Black Bears momentum. Maine continued the offensive burst as it closed the half on a 11-0 run to take a 45-22 lead into the half.
Maine shot 66.7-percent from the floor (18-for-27) in the opening half while holding UMass Lowell to a slim 25.0-percent and outscoring the River Hawks 22-6 in the paint over the opening 20-minutes.
After ending the first half with an 11-0 run, Maine was able to piece together a 25-9 sprint, with nine points from Wood, to take its largest lead of the game, 70-32 with just under 12-minutes remaining.
The River Hawks refused to go down quietly as they were able to chip the Maine lead down to 72-46 with a 14-2 run over the next five minute stretch.
However, Maine was able to hold on as it recorded its 10th-straight win, defeating UMass Lowell, 74-46.
Maine returns home on Sunday, Feb. 15 when it hosts Stony Brook in the annual "Play4Kay" Pink Game. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Please join our fight against Cancer by donating to the cause at http://www.play4kay.org/MaineBlack Bears
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