Estero, Fla. -- Maeve Carroll led Maine with nine points as the Black Bears fell to Arizona State, 57-31, in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Friday evening.

Maine continues its play at the Gulf Coast Showcase when it meets either Drake or Purdue on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Maine kept the deficit under double-digits until the third period when Arizona State staged a late 12-0 run, distancing itself from the Black Bears. Back and forth action was featured in the first half with five total lead changes through the opening 20 minutes.

Kelly Fogarty finished 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, compiling six points and three boards, while Maddy McVicar added five points and a pair of rebounds. Blanca Millan suffered a lower body injury late in the first half and would not return.

Arizona State outscored Maine 21-6 off turnovers in a game which featured 39 total mishaps, with the Black Bears forcing 16 takeaways. Maine finished the contest 12-for-39 from the floor, 3-of-11 from 3-point range.

The Black Bears forced 12 Arizona State turnovers in the opening half but were unable to take advantage, also turning it over 12 times, as Arizona State staged runs of 6-0 and 8-0, helping to distance the Sun Devils from Maine in the first half.
 
Back-to-back buckets from Carroll, both coming via turnovers, gave Maine a three-point advantage midway through the first quarter.
 
Arizona State answered with its first of two first half runs. A late 6-0 sprint from the Sun Devils marked the fifth lead change of the first quarter as Arizona State carried a 12-9 lead into the second quarter.
 
Trailing by four early in the second, Fogarty's 3-point field goal trimmed the separation to one.
 
However, Arizona State was able to hold Maine scoreless over the next 5:33, pushing to a nine-point lead following an 8-0 run. 
 
The Black Bears would enter the half facing a 23-14 deficit.
 
Maine continued to fight as it sprinted out of the break with a 6-2 run to start the third. Anne Simon started the quarter with a bucket in the paint, forcing Arizona State to take an early second half timeout. Maine responded from a bucket by the Sun Devils with four unanswered points. Anna Kahelin's defensive rebound turned into a layup from the freshman before Saar's offensive rebound and put back cut the lead to five.
 
However, Arizona State closed the third strong. The Sun Devils began to run away, beginning with a 12-0 run, before ending the quarter with a 17-2 advantage to enter the fourth leading 42-22.
 
To no surprise, there was no quit in the Black Bears. Trailing 47-23 early in the fourth, Maine kept charging. Saar's jumper began the swing before Carroll cashed in with a bucket off an Arizona State turnover. Fogarty's second triple of the evening completed the 7-0 run.
 
However, it would be as close as Maine would get. The Sun Devils finished strong, capturing a 57-31 in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
 
The Black Bears continue action in the Showcase when they face either Drake or Purdue on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
 
-UMaine-