Coral Gables, Fl. – The University of Maine three-game win streak was snapped with an 80-70 decision at Miami in the opening round of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday afternoon.
 
Blanca Millan and Julie Brosseau each bested the 20-point mark to lead the way. Millan finished in double-digits for the fourth-straight game with a team-high 21 points while Brosseau hit 7-of-8 from the free throw stripe on her way to a career-high 20 points.
 
The Black Bears, who trailed by 13 in the first half, fought back to tie the game, 37-37, at the halftime break.
 
"I love this team and I love the fight they gave but we made too many mistakes," commented head coach Amy Vachon. "The fight they showed to come back was great but if we don't dig the hole in the first place, we don't have to fight back"
 
As a unit, the Black Bears went 11-for-26 from 3-point range to finish with their highest percentage from downtown (42.3%). The difference was in the paint where Maine was outscored 44-16.
 
Miami, leading by five with a minute left in the first, put together an 8-0 run off three Maine turnovers, to take a 26-13 lead. Millan's triple as time expired in the first cut the lead to 10 heading into the second quarter.
 
The Black Bears swung the momentum over the next 10-minutes, outscoring Miami 21-11 in the second quarter.
 
A layup from Erykah Davenport with just less than four minutes left in the half gave Miami a 35-29 lead.
 
The Black Bears would close the half strong, putting together an 8-2 run. Millan began the scoring, knocking down her third triple of the half, before forcing a steal and dishing it to Brosseau for a pair, cutting the lead to one.
 
After a pair of Miami free throws, Brosseau buried Maine's seventh 3-pointer of the half to send the game into the break knotted at 37-37.
 
Overall, Maine shot 7-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half.
 
The Black Bears were unable to keep their strong play up in the third quarter. Miami opened the quarter on a 10-0 run before ultimately outscoring the Black Bears, 29-14 in the third to carry a 66-51 lead into the fourth.
 
Miami's lead swelled to 20, 76-56, with 6:35 left in regulation.
 
However, there was no quit in the Black Bears. A 14-4 run capped with back-to-back 3-pointers from Dor Saar, brought Maine back within 10 with 2:30 to play.
 
But Maine was unable to shrink the lead further, dropping the opener of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament by a final of 80-70.
 
Maine is back in action on Sunday, Nov. 26 when it meets Kennesaw St. at 2 p.m.
 
-UMaine-