CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Tanesha Sutton netted a career and game-high 16 points to lead the Black Bears to their fourth-straight win, defeating East Tennessee State 61-48 in the opening round of the Miami Holiday Classic on Monday afternoon.

Anita Kelava also picked up a career-high with 10 points while notching four blocks; the most individual blocks in a game since Samantha Baranowski notched five at Albany in 2012. For the seventh consecutive game, Sigi Koizar finished in double-digits with 12 points to go along with five assists and five blocks. It wasn't just scoring where Sutton was strong as the guard added six boards and three assists in her 30 minutes of action.

Maine's defense forced 20 Bucs' turnovers and held ETSU to a 28.8% shooting mark (15-for-52). The Black Bears, who limited ETSU to just 48 points, have now held their last four opponents to 55 points or fewer, and two under 50.

It was another fast start for the Black Bears, who have now outscored their last two opponents 47-25 in the first quarter. Maine raced out to a 13-2 lead, scoring 11-unanswered, as part of a run which saw five different Black Bears net buckets. A jumper from Sutton followed a three by Julie Brosseau as Maine took its first double-digit lead of the game with 2:41 left in the first quarter.

The Bucs chipped the lead to six before Maine again rallied. Naira Caceres was able to get in on the scoring fun as her individual 5-0 run lifted Maine's lead to 21-9, 51-seconds into the second quarter.

ETSU again chipped into the lead when Raven Dean's layup brought the Bucs back within 11.

However, Maine quickly answered. Kelava's jumped came as the start of a 7-2 Black Bear sprint. Koizar's triple came before the senior guard found Fanny Wadling from the outside. Wadling's 3-pointer gave Maine its largest lead of the game at 17 with 1:46 left in the half.

The Black Bears led by 13 at the half and built the lead back up to 15 when Sutton opened the half with a bucket.

A 14-3 run by the Bucs tightened the game back up as ETSU clawed its way back within four with 2:26 remaining in the third period.

Maine thwarted the attack and was able to put together a 6-0 run as back-to-back buckets from Sutton regained a 10-point lead for the Black Bears.

The lead would not fall below nine the rest of the way as Maine hung on for its fourth-straight victory, defeating ETSU by a score of 61-48.

Maine will play the winner of Miami and Coppin State tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the Miami Holiday Classic Championship.

-UMaine-