Austin, Texas -- The No. 15 University of Maine women's basketball team saw its season come to an end with an 83-54 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday evening at No. 2 Texas. The Black Bears finish the season with an overall mark of 23-10.

Maine, which earned its ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament after capturing its eighth America East league title, was led by Tanesha Sutton's team-high 16 points. Sutton's scoring output marked the ninth consecutive outing in which she's produced double-digits and the 33rd double-figure performance of her career. Julie Brosseau joined Sutton in double-digits with 11 points while Blanca Millan added seven points, two rebounds and two steals.

"As far as our team, I'm really proud of them, proud of our season," said head coach Amy Vachon. "Not the way we wanted to end it, but just I take these 13 kids any day, so really just proud of how hard they compete, and how much they grew this year.

Maine's scrappy defense, which entered action ranked 18th in the nation allowing 55.8 points per game, forced 20 Texas turnovers. The total was the highest turnovers forced against the Longhorns in their last 21 outings.

Texas, which was paced by Jatarie White's game-high 17 points, shot an impressive 61.8 percent from the floor (34-55), including a 16-for-19 start. The Longhorns dominated play on the boards, outrebounding Maine 43-12.

Maine finished the game 20-of-55 from the field. The Black Bears, who set America East single season records for three-point field goals made (256) finished the contest just 3-for-19 from beyond the arc.

Texas got off to a hot start in the first quarter. Brosseau's jumper cut the lead to eight but the Longhorns closed the first period with a 9-0 run to take a 23-8 lead into the second.

A trey from Sutton trimmed the lead to 12 but Texas would answer, this time with a 17-3 run spanning just over six minutes to swell the lead to 25.

Texas carried a 45-18 advantage into the break.

Sutton's jumper out of the half began the third quarter action but the Texas lead would soon expand to 30 with 6:53 to play in the period.

Chasity Patterson's triple late in the third gave the Longhorns their largest lead of the contest, 65-30.

Maine kept charging as it put together a brief 7-2 run over the opening three minutes of the fourth. Sutton's followed her second triple of the night with another bucket before finding Rossignol for a trey to complete the run. Maine, which trailed by 28 following the run, could not close the gap any further.

Despite outscoring Texas 20-16 in the final period, the Longhorns would ultimately advance to the NCAA Second Round with an 83-54 victory.

-UMaine-