Bronx, N.Y. -- In a game which featured 11 lead changes and nine ties, the University of Maine was outlasted by Fordham in overtime as the Black Bears fell 72-64 in the opening round of the Fordham Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon.

A free throw from Tanesha Sutton with 18-seconds left in regulation gave the Black Bears a 61-59 lead. However, Fordham would tie it when Kaitlyn Downey grabbed an offensive rebound off a three-point attempt and converted with a reverse layup with 2-seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime. Maine was outscored 11-3 in the extra frame.

Blanca Millan, who fouled out with 56-seconds left in regulation, led Maine with 16 points and five rebounds. The point total was Millan's 10th double-digit scoring performance of the year. Sutton, who also fouled out late in the fourth quarter, narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Dor Saar rounded out Maine's double-figure scorers, matching a career-high with 15 points.

Bre Cavanaugh led all scorers with 27 points on 10-of-22 shooting.

Maine finished the day 23-of-49 from the floor, after going 8-of-14 in the first quarter, while hitting 3-of-14 from three point range. The Black Bears also posted a 15-for-22 showing from the free throw line, matching its highest free throw output of the season. Fordham, which got off to a slow start offensively, hit 26-of-64 attempts while knocking down nine triples.

The Rams, who pulled down 19 offensive boards, were able to outscore Maine 17-9 in second change opportunities.

Maine started the contest hot, racing out to a 15-4 lead over the opening seven minutes of action. An 8-0 run, capped on back-to-back buckets from Millan, gave Maine its largest lead of the contest (11), with 2:52 left in the opening quarter. The Black Bears were able to cash in down low in the first period, outscoring Fordham 8-0 in the paint over the opening 10-minutes. The Black Bears finished the first quarter 8-of-14 while holding a 19-11 edge.

Fordham held Maine scoreless over the opening 6:02 of the second quarter, beginning the period with an 8-2 run to cut the lead down to a pair.

Kira Barra put a stop to the run briefly before back-to-back buckets by the Rams tied the game at 23.

Fordham would end the half on a 5-2 run to carry a 28-25 lead into the break.

Rossignol would hit the first basket of the second half, cutting the Fordham lead to one. However, the senior took a hard fall early in the period and would not return.

Millan's jumper with 8:34 left in the period regained the lead for Maine. However, Fordham would answer with a 9-3 run, extending its lead out to six.

Maine had the answer when a three from Kelly Fogarty came before consecutive buckets by Saar as the Fordham lead would shrink to just one with 3:51 left in the third.

The Rams rebuilt a five point lead but Maine would end the half strong. Sutton's pair of free throws to complete the quarter sent the game into the final period with Fordham clinging to a 45-44 advantage.

Sutton opened the fourth with another free throw to tie the game as the senior began to heat up. The teams would exchange three more lead changes over the next three minutes.

After Millan's free throw gave Maine a one point lead, Cavanaugh's triple put Fordham up by two. It was Saar with the immediate answer for Maine as her triple from the top of the key put Maine back up by one.

A jumper by Cavanaugh gave the home team another one-point advantage before two free throws by Saar, and one by Sutton, gave the Black Bears a 61-59 lead with 18-seconds left.

A turnover by Fordham, and one by Maine, gave the Rams the ball with 11-seconds left. Cavanaugh's three-point toss came up short but was rebounded by Downey who converted on a layup with 2-seconds left to send the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, missing its top three scorers, Maine was outscored 11-3 as Fordham escaped with a 72-64 victory.

Maine will meet the lose of the UT Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-