AUGUSTA, Maine -- Tanesha Sutton tallied her fifth double-double of the season, racking up 19 of her career-high 28 points in the first half, to held guide Maine to its ninth consecutive victory, a 71-61 decision over Stony Brook at the Augusta Civic Center.

Maine turned on its defensive effort in the second half. After surrendering 24 points to Stony Brook in the first quarter, the Black Bears limited the Seawolves to just 18 total points in the second half.

Sutton, who tallied her 1,000th point in a UMaine uniform in the win, finished 11-of-16 from the floor for 28 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Blanca Millan finished in double-digits for the fifth game in a row, recording 13 of her 18 points in the second half. Dor Saar chipped in 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting with four assists while Fanny Wadling added a career-high 16 points and matched a career-best with four steals.

The Black Bears went 29-of-59 overall (49.2) while hitting 7-of-10 free throws and winning the rebounding battle, 36-33.

For the fourth time in five years, the Black Bears have reached the 20 win plateau as the victory lifted Maine to 20-7 overall and 13-1 in America East play.

There was no lack of offense in the first half as both teams finished the opening 20 minutes shooting over 50-percent from the floor.
 
Stony Brook got out to a seven-point lead after three and a half minutes before the Black Bears answered.
 
Maine answered with 7-0 run when Wadling found Millan for a pair before Saar knocked down a triple. Wadling's layup with four minutes remaining in the first knotted things at 14.
 
Stony Brook responded, putting together a 7-0 sprint of its own to retake a seven point edge.

Maine rallied, putting together an impressive stretch on both ends of the court over the next six minutes. The Black Bears held Stony Brook without a bucket over a 5:47 span, going on an extended 12-0 run. Wadling picked off a Stony Brook pass and raced down court for two as the Black Bears built a 29-24 lead with 6:52 left in the half.

The game once again swung, this time in Stony Brook's face. The Seawolves reacted to Maine's run with a 11-0 streak of their own in just over two minutes. The run gave Stony Brook a six-point advantage midway through the second.

Five points from Millan and Sutton to end the period brought Maine within a pair at the break in a high scoring half as the teams entered the locker room with the Seawolves leading, 43-41.

Maine put together a 10-2 run to begin the second half. Saar pulled down a defensive rebound during the stretch, racing down court and pulling up for a three as the Black Bears led by six with six minutes gone in the third.

With the Maine lead remaining at three early in the fourth, the Black Bears look to put the game away. A 9-0 run started with buckets from Millan and Sutton, each coming off offensive boards. A pull-up by Rossignol added to the total before Sutton's three brought the crowd to their feet, giving Maine its largest lead of the contest at 70-58 with three minutes remaining.

The Black Bears held on to the advantage down the stretch to complete a 71-61 victory over Stony Brook.

Maine continues America East action on Wednesday when it travels to take on UMass Lowell at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-