BANGOR, Maine -- Blanca Millan posted a game-high 27 points to help lead the Black Bears to a 76-65 victory over visiting UAlbany on Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center. The win improved Maine to 4-0 in America East play, marking its best start in league play since 2003-04.

Millan, who moved past Bracey Barker and into 15th on Maine's all-time scoring list, started the day 8-of-9 from the floor before finishing the contest 10-of-14, with a 5-for-5 showing from the free throw line, to go along with five steals and four rebounds. Millan's 27 points marked her highest total against an America East opponent in her career.

Maine (11-6) was assisted on the offensive end by Parise Rossignol who tallied her fourth-straight double-figure scoring performance with 20 points on 4-of-6 from three point range. Sutton, who has notched double-figures in six of her last seven outings, finished the day with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Black Bears went 16-for-30 from the floor in the first half before finishing the game 28-of-58 (48.3) with an 11-for-14 mark at the free throw stripe.

Maine, which entered the game sixth in the nation in turnovers per game (11.5), again won the turnover battle. The Black Bears forced 17 turnovers to their 11, outscoring UAlbany 22-8 in points off turnovers.

Both teams got off to hot starts on the offensive end, combining to go 12-for-17 from the floor with the Black Bears holding a 17-14 lead through six minutes of action.

The Black Bears closed out the first quarter on an 8-1 run. Kelly Fogarty spotted up from three and knocked it down with just under a minute remaining. With four seconds left, Maeve Carroll came down with a defensive rebound and quickly sent the outlet pass to Fogarty. Fogarty crossed mid-court before letting a deep three-point attempt go. The buzzer would sound as the ball banked off the backboard and through the net, giving Maine a 25-15 lead after one.

Maine's lead continued to grow early in the second. The Black Bears were able to take their largest lead of the opening half on a three from Rossignol to cap a 7-2 run. The run would complete a 15-3 swing for Maine, which led 32-17 with 8:23 left in the half.

UAlbany cut the lead back down to single digits at 39-28 before Maine's offense put together a 6-0 run. A pair of jumpers from Millan came on either side of a bucket from Sutton as the Black Bears once again regained a 15-point edge.

A 4-0 run from the Great Danes to end the half sent the game into the break with the Black Bears on top, 43-32.

The Black Bears put together a 13-2 run to open the third quarter prior to outscoring the Great Danes 15-7 overall in the third quarter. Millan recorded the hoop and the harm, extending Maine's lead out to 18. A bucket by the Great Danes came before a 6-0 spurt by the Black Bears, capped on Sutton's triple to extend the lead to 24.

UAlbany ended the third strong with a 5-0 run before eventually cutting the lead to 16 early in the fourth. A pair of triples from UAlbany helped it to an 11-2 run, ending on back-to-back treys from Kyara Frames and Amanda Kantzy. The run chipped the Maine lead back down to single-digits at 66-57 before Kantzy's second trey in a minute span brought UAlbany back within six.

Maine responded with a 4-0 run as two free throws from Rossignol extended the lead back to 10 with 1:21 remaining. The lead would sink back to seven but a 4-0 run to end the game gave Maine its fourth league win of the season, defeating the Great Danes by a final of 76-65.

The Black Bears head back to the road for an America East showdown on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Hartford.

-UMaine-