NEWARK, Del. -- Blanca Millan poured in a career-high 37 points to guide the Black Bears to a 69-56 season opening road win at Delaware on Friday afternoon.

"What a game. There's no word to describe that," commented head coach Amy Vachon on Millan's performance. "She really put us on her back. Anytime we needed a bucket, she had it. I'm really, really proud of her, proud of the whole team. I loved how our kids fought, getting down early. I thought Anne Simon played an outstanding game today as well."

Maine, which fell behind by eight midway through the first quarter, outscored the Blue Hens 22-12 in the second quarter, giving the Black Bears their first lead of the afternoon. The Black Bears are now 112-40 all-time against Colonial Athletic Association member schools.

Millan's career-high came by way of a 11-of-19 performance from the field to go along with a 13-for-15 mark from the free throw stripe. Millan, who raised her career scoring total to 1,475, surpassed Liz Wood for eighth on Maine's all-time scoring list. The 37 point total marked the third time in which Millan has bested 30 points in her career and the 28th time she has surpassed 20 or more points in a single game. The senior captain tallied 20 of her game-high 37 points in the first half.

In her Maine debut and first career start, Anne Simon finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five steals in 35 minutes. Maeve Carroll added nine points and seven boards while Maddy McVicar also pulled down seven rebounds.

The Black Bears shot over 50-percent in the second and third quarters, finishing the game 22-of-48 (45.8) from the floor. Maine turned in one of its best efforts in recent history from from the free throw line, going 20-of-23 from the charity stripe. It marks just the third time in Maine's last 69 games in which it has netted 20 or more free throws.

Delaware came out hot, racing out to an 11-3 lead just under five minutes into the first quarter. Out of a timeout, Maine began its charge on five-straight points from Millan, closing the gap to 11-8.

Maine entered the second quarter trailing 18-14 before rattling off a 9-4 run to start the period. Simon found Millan for a triple before the senior cashed in on a layup to close the gap to one. A steal from Simon led to a Carroll bucket, giving Maine its first lead of the contest, 23-22, with 7:17 left in the first half.

Delaware knotted the game at 25-all before the Black Bears responded with a 9-0 run. The Black Bears went 5-of-6 from the free throw line over the run before a bucket from Anna Kahelin extended the lead to 35-25 late in the quarter. Two more late free throws from Simon sent Maine into the break leading 36-30.

Maine stretched its lead to double-figures midway through the third when Simon swiped a steal before taking it coast-to-coast for the bucket to put the Black Bears on top, 44-34. The lead extended to 11 when Millan forced another turnover and cashed in on the fastbreak with just three seconds left in the third.

Maine would enter the final quarter with a 51-40 advantage.

Simon's triple early in the fourth came as part of a 6-0 run, giving the Black Bears their largest lead of the game at 57-41.

Maine's lead would not sink below nine the rest of the way as the Black Bears cruised to the 69-56 victory.

Maine will look to begin the season 2-0 when it travels to meet Brown on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-