DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (10-11, 3-3 America East) failed to hand New Hampshire (15-3, 5-0 AE) its first conference loss as the Wildcats escaped with a 50-44 victory on Thursday evening at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Blanca Millan scored in double-digits for the second-straight game, and the eighth time this season, to lead the Black Bears with 10 points. Sigi Koizar notched nine points with three steals in 39 minutes while Laia Sole and Tanesha Sutton each added six. Koizar's total moved her past former teammate Liz Wood and into seventh on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,468).

After a strong shooting start (5-for-10) in the first quarter, the Black Bears struggled the rest of the way (14-for-49) and ended the game at 32.2 percent.

New Hampshire was led by Olivia Healy's 16 points while Brittni Lai (15) and Carlie Pogue (14) each also contributed double-figures.

The Black Bears trailed by five early before Fanny Wadling and Tanesha Sutton hit back-to-back buckets to bring Maine within a pair.

New Hampshire answered with a 6-0 run to put itself up seven with 4:25 left in the first quarter. Sheraton Jones' triple, the first of her career, snapped the streak but the Wildcats would lead 17-13 at the end of one.

Both teams went cold in the second quarter, each mustering just four points over the 10-minute stretch. Maine finished the quarter 2-for-14 while the Wildcats shot 2-for-13 and carried a 21-17 lead into the break.

Koizar hit the first shot of the second half to cut the deficit to a pair before New Hampshire rattled off four unanswered to regain a six-point cushion.

Millan, Maine's top steal threat, swiped her team-leading 34th steal of the year and raced down court, laying the ball up and in to send the game to the fourth with Maine trailing, 35-33.

Koizar again started a quarter with a make as the Black Bears forced the second tie of the game at 35-all just 1:13 into the final quarter.

A triple from Healy started a 12-2 run as the Wildcats quickly regained a 10-point edge, 47-37, with 3:22 to play.

A 5-0 run from Maine, ending with a triple from Koizar, brought the Black Bears to within five but it would be as close as they would get. The Wildcats picked up the 50-44 victory, improving to 5-0 in league play.

Maine returns home on Sunday, Jan. 22 to host UAlbany in a rematch of last season's America East Championship. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. For tickets, please visit TicketMaster.com or the Cross Insurance Center box office.

-UMaine-