University of Maine
Binghamton
Women's Basketball Defeats Binghamton to Clinch Share of AE Regular Season Title
2/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BANGOR, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team guaranteed at least a share of the America East Regular Season Title following a 69-37 win over Binghamton on Senior Day.
Maine's victory, which was its 19th-straight at home and 12th-straight overall, moved it to 24-7 on the season and 15-1 in league play. The 24 regular season wins ties a Maine school-record and is the most wins since a 25-7 season in 2003-04. Maine's defense, which entered the game ranked sixth in the nation, held the Bearcats to just 37 points; a season-low defensive effort for the Black Bears.
Sigi Koizar once again led the Black Bears in scoring, totaling a double-digit performance for the 28th time this season with 19 points. Koizar also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Bella Swan tallied her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mikaela Gustafsson posted her third-straight game scoring in double-figures as the senior added 10.
Maine shot 57.7 percent in the second half, including a 6-for-10 showing from 3-point range, and finished the game 25-for-60 (41.7 percent). Both team's struggled throughout the first half as Binghamton hit just 5-of-28 attempts from the floor (17.9 percent).
The Black Bears outscored Binghamton 22-3 off turnovers and 17-2 on second chance attempts after pulling down 13 offensive rebounds. In total, Maine outrebounded Binghamton 48-29; its highest total against a Division-I opponent this season.
Each team struggled in the first quarter from the floor. Maine was able to jump out to a 5-0 advantage before Binghamton strung together six-unanswered, taking a one point edge. The game would enter the second quarter tied at 9-9.
Maine's shots started to fall in the second as it was able to outscore the Bearcats 18-5 in the period. The Black Bears began the quarter with a 10-0 run. Binghamton cut the lead back down to five but Maine closed with an 8-0 sprint, keyed by six-straight from Swan. At the half, Maine's lead was 13.
Binghamton cut the lead to eight early in the third quarter but Maine's advantage would not sink below double-digits the rest of the way. Nine-straight points fell for the Black Bears over a three-minute span in the third quarter, elevating the lead to 17.
The Black Bears remained red hot in the fourth quarter where they outscored Binghamton 29-13. Leading by 17 early in the final period, a layup from Gustafsson began an 18-4 sprint. The rally ran Maine's lead up to 31 after a string which saw Maine reel off its 18 points in just under five minutes.
Maine cruised the rest of the way, capturing the final regular season contest by a score of 69-37.
The Black Bears await their postseason fate as the remainder of the America East team's will wrap-up play on Sunday. Maine will open America East tournament play on Saturday, March 5 in Binghamton, N.Y. Time and opponent will be determined later on Sunday. Stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com and on Twitter @BlackBearsWBB for all of your tournament news.
-UMaine-
