BANGOR, Maine -- Blanca Millan poured in a career-high 23 points as the University of Maine women's basketball team (10-10, 3-2 America East) handed Hartford (12-5, 3-1 AE) its first league loss of the year with a 73-62 decision at the Cross Insurance Center on Monday afternoon. Maine has now won 24 of its last 25 home contests.

The Black Bears had one of their better offensive performances of the year, shooting a season-high 50.9-percent (28-for-55). Maine assisted on 22 of its buckets, also a season-high, and dominated the boards at 45-24. Maine seemed to show little issue with Hartford's press, beating the Hawks' pressure and leading to a 16-4 advantage in fastbreak points.

Tanesha Sutton continued to pack her stat line, narrowly missing a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds to go along with a team-high six assists. Laia Sole produced a solid performance off the bench, going 5-for-8 with 10 points.

Maine, which has led after the first quarter in five-straight games, continued to get off to a hot start on Monday afternoon. The Black Bears rattled off the first six points of the game. Still leading by six, Millan knocked down her first 3-pointer of the game to put the Black Bears up nine midway through the quarter. Maine would lead 18-11 heading into the second.

The lead reached double-digits with 6:52 left in the half when Millan's layup gave Maine a 22-12 advantage.

Hartford responded, putting together a 6-0 run, to cut the lead down to four with 3:33 left in the second quarter. Maine's lead would stick at four entering the half.

The Hawks struggled from the floor in the first half, shooting just 29.0-percent (9-for-31). However, 13 turnovers for the Black Bears helped keep the game close.

Maine's offense put up its second-highest single quarter total to date in the third with a 27 point effort. After Hartford cut the lead to two, Julie Brosseau and Millan hit back-to-back 3-pointers to lift the lead back to eight. Shortly after, a bucket from Sole off a feed by Naira Caceres put the Black Bears up by double-digits, 49-39.

Following a Hartford bucket, Sutton's back-to-back makes gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the game (11), with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter.

The lead continued to grow in the fourth when Fanny Wadling kicked a pass out to Koizar who stuck the three, extending the lead out to 14. Just minutes later, Koizar returned the favor with an assist to Wadling who converted, giving Maine its largest lead of the game (73-56) with 2:49 to play.

The Black Bears cruised the rest of the way, defeating Hartford by a final of 73-62.

Maine is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 19 when it travels to take on New Hampshire. Tip against the conference leading Wildcats is scheduled for 7 PM live on ESPN3.

-UMaine-