Bangor, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball continued its recent trend of terrific defensive efforts as it forced 24 turnovers and held UMBC to a 13-for-44 showing from the field in a 69-36 victory on Sunday afternoon. The win, Maine's fourth in a row, moves the Black Bears to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in America East action.

Maine posted a 31-5 advantage in points off turnovers after holding the Retrievers (2-19, 1-7) to the fewest points given up by a Black Bears' squad (36) since they limited Rider to just 35 back on Nov. 18, 2005.

Julie Brosseau, Tanesha Sutton and Blanca Millan each posted game-highs of 14 points to lead Maine's scoring efforts. For Millan, it marked her 20th consecutive game in double-digits as the league's leader in steals swiped four on Sunday to go along with a season-high four assists. Sutton narrowly missed out on a double-double adding nine rebounds, five assists and five steals to her day while Brosseau hit four three-pointers with all 14 of her points coming in the first half.

Offensively, the Black Bears went 14-for-33 from three-point range, tying its second highest single game total of the season after also hitting 14 at No. 8 Ohio State. Maine has now hit 10 or more triples in seven games.

Over their four game win streak, the Black Bears have now only trailed for 2:29 seconds after leading from start to finish against UMBC. Maine's ball security was again impressive against the Retrievers, turning it over just four times in each half. Maine, averaging just 7.7 turnovers per game over its last four, has posted single-digit turnover totals in three of its last four outings.

Maine's impressive defense helped it grow an early lead. The Black Bears opened the game with a 16-5 run as they held UMBC to just 1-of-14 shooting while forcing six turnovers in the first quarter. Back-to-back buckets by Sutton began a late 6-0 run before a pair of free throws from Millan gave Maine its first double-digit lead of the game at the close of the first.

The run extended to 15-0 early in the second when Brosseau kicked a pass out to Millan who knocked down a triple, stretching Maine's lead to 21 with 6:45 left in the half.

Brosseau's fourth three of the first half gave the Black Bears a 36-16 lead at the break. UMBC's first half struggles from the floor resulted in a 5-for-24 showing over the opening 20 minutes of action.

After a 7-7 third quarter, Maine would carry its 20 point cushion into the final period.

The Black Bears put the game well out of reach, piecing together a 26-9 run in the fourth quarter. Sutton's triple with 5:11 to play started a late 14-2 Maine run. Kirsten Johnson's short jumper put the Black Bears up 30 before three-point field goals from Parise Rossignol, Kelly Fogarty and Fogarty again gave Maine its largest lead of the game (37) with just 48-seconds left.

Maine cruised the remainder of the contest, sweeping the season series from UMBC by a 69-36 final.

The Black Bears continue America East action on Wednesday morning with an 11 a.m. tip at UMass Lowell live on ESPN3 and across the Black Bear Radio Network.

-UMaine-