Box Score Columbia, S.C. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (2-3) dropped a 79-42 decision to #3 South Carolina (3-0) on Monday evening at the Colonial Life Arena.

Maine was able to take care of the ball against a South Carolina team which entered averaging 20.5 take aways. Maine, which turned the ball over just 13 times, saw glimpses of greatness against one of the top teams in the nation and the preseason favorites to win the Southeastern Conference.

Freshman Julie Brosseau paced Maine's offensive attack with 11 points in 14 minutes, knocking down 3-of-4 attempts from 3-point range and finishing 4-for-5 from the field overall. Naira Caceres and Anita Kelava each added seven points.

The Gamecocks finished with five players tallying double-figure scoring efforts. Alaina Coates led the way with a double-double, recording 12 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.

South Carolina opened the game on a 15-0 run, separating it from the Black Bears early.

Maine hit the scoreboard six minutes into the first quarter, putting together a 5-0 run started with a nifty layup from Fanny Wadling off a feed from Laia Sole.

The Black Bears were able to keep the gap to 12 early in the second quarter but the Gamecocks pulled away, staging a 21-9 run to close the half and carry a 43-19 advantage into the break.

South Carolina scored the first 13 points of the second half unanswered before Brosseau snapped the streak with one of her three makes from beyond the arc.

However, the Black Bears were unable to cut the lead further, ultimately falling to the No. 3 ranked Gamecocks, 79-42.

Maine looks for its second win of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge tomorrow when it takes on Hampton at 5 p.m.

-UMaine-