University of Maine
Hartford
Women's Basketball Downs Hartford for 11th-Straight Win
2/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
W. HARTFORD, Conn. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team picked up its 11th-straight win after defeating Hartford by a final of 50-44 on Wednesday evening. The win moves the Black Bears to 23-7 and 14-1 in America East. Maine's 23 wins matches its total from a season ago.
Sigi Koizar led the Black Bears in scoring for the 20th time this season after tallying 15 points. Koizar scoring effort moved her into 15th all-time in Maine history; surpassing both Stacey Porrini (1,128) and Missy Traversi (1,130).
Mikaela Gustafsson posted her 10th double-digit scoring performance of the year with 11 points and five rebounds while Bella Swan and Sophie Weckstrom each finished with eight.
Maine was able to hold its 11th-straight opponent under 60 points and second-straight under 50. The Black Bears are now surrendering just 47.9 to opponents in league play. Maine forced 14 turnovers and totaled eight steals.
Offensively, the Black Bears assisted on 15 of 21 buckets and shot 44.7 percent (21-for-47) for the game.
Maine raced out to a 9-2 lead early as part for five-straight points from Weckstrom. The Hawks answered and were able to close back within a point after one quarter of action.
The Black Bears, leading by three, closed the half strong with a 6-0 run. Gustafsson's pair of layups to end the half sent Maine into the break with a 24-15 advantage.
A brief 4-0 run early in the third quarter gave Maine its first double-digit lead of the game, 28-18, with 6:36 left in the period.
Hartford continued to hang around, putting together a late 7-0 sprint to bring it all the way back within three with 1:12 to play in the third.
However, Maine again was able to end the quarter strong, staging a 5-0 run and taking an eight point edge into the final quarter.
A 3-pointer from Koizar preceeded a bucket by Gustafsson early in the fourth, giving Maine its largest lead of the ball game at 11.
The Hawks made it interesting at the end, reeling off seven unanswered point to bring them within four with 58-seconds to play.
Koizar's clutch jumper with 29-seconds to play ended the threat as Maine captured its sixth-straight road victory, 50-44.
The Black Bears return home to close out the regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Binghamton. Maine will honor its eight seniors prior to the game. It will be a White Out for fans as all attending are asked to wear white. The first 1,000 fans into the building will received a special "Senior Day" t-shirt and $1 hot dogs will be offered.
-UMaine-
