Box Score Bangor, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team suffered its first home loss in its last 21 changes with an 87-43 decision to No. 10 Mississippi St. in the Tipoff Tournament championship game on Saturday evening.

Laia Sole and Sigi Koizar each earned selections to the Tipoff Tournament All-Tournament team. Sole and Naira Caceres each scored eight points to lead Maine in scoring against the Bulldogs while Koizar added seven.

Victoria Vivians, the Tipoff Tournament Most Valuable Player, led all scorers with 26 points, all coming in the first half.

The Bulldogs raced out to a 15-0 lead over the opening four minutes.

Maine settled in and was able to put together its strongest stretch of the contest. A Tanesha Sutton bucket was followed by a 3-pointer from Julie Brosseau as Maine went on an extended 12-4 run to close within seven.

The Black Bears entered the second quarter down nine but continued to charge. Mississippi St. extended its lead to 11 before Maine once again responded. Sole found Blanca Millan on a nice cut for a pair before a jumper from Caceres chipped the lead to seven. Caceres hooked up with her fellow Spaniard on another sharp play for two as Maine fought all the way back to within five, bringing the Cross Insurance Center crowd to their feet, with just over four minutes gone in the second quarter.

Mississippi St. was able to extend its lead back out to 23, closing the final six minutes of the quarter with a 21-3 run, to carry a 46-23 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs closed out the contest outscoring Maine 31-20 in the second half to capture the Tipoff Tournament championship with an 87-43 victory.

The Black Bears are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 15 when it travels to take on Harvard at 6 p.m.

-UMaine-