Raleigh, N.C. — Parise Rossignol wrapped up her collegiate career with a team-high 19 points as the University of Maine women's basketball team dropped a 63-51 decision at third-seeded and 10th-ranked NC State in an NCAA Tournament First Round meeting on Saturday, March 23.

The Black Bears end their season 25-8 overall as they were able to reach the 20-win plateau for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The win total also matches their third highest victory total in school history.

"As far as our team, I'm just so proud of them," said head coach Amy Vachon. "To come down here in December and really lose by a lot, and it could've been a lot worse, and to come today, I knew we had improved a lot. We knew what we were facing but our kids never quit. I'm so proud of our team, especially our seniors, Tanesha and Parise. Just two of the greatest kids you could ask for in a program."

Rossignol, who went 5-for-9 from 3-point range, was joined in double-digits by Dor Saar who added four triples and 16 points. Together, Rossignol and Saar combined for nine of Maine's 11 made 3-point field goals. Fanny Wadling, who missed Maine's previous meeting with NC State (27-5) back on Dec. 15, was a presence down low, adding nine points and eight boards.

The Black Bears, who fell at NC State, 84-46, earlier in the season, put up a tremendous fight in the rematch. Maine, which outscored NC State in the second half, was successful in its game plan of keeping the Wolfpack off the offensive boards and also was able to take care of the ball on the offensive end. For the 10th time this season, Maine limited its turnovers to single-digits (9) while forcing 11 NC State mishaps on seven steals to go along with five blocks.

The Black Bears, who entered ranked 35th in the nation in 3-point field goals per game (8.2), finished the contest 11-of-37 from beyond the arc. The total marked the 13th time this season in which Maine produced double-digit makes from downtown and extend its school and America East record to 273 made 3-point field goals in a season.

Maine and NC State traded buckets early with Maine grabbing a one-point advantage on Saar's triple early in the first. Blanca Millan found Wadling on the fast break for a pair to give Maine a 10-9 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

The Wolfpack would end the first on a 10-0 run to carry a 19-10 edge into the second quarter.

An early 5-2 sprint by Maine brought the visitors back within six when Tanesha Sutton hit Rossignol for another triple early in the period.

The NC State lead would remain six late in the second but the Wolfpack were again able to close a quarter strong. An 11-0 run by NC State sent the Black Bears into the break trailing 39-22.

With NC State leading by 16 midway through the third, the Black Bears began to chip away. Saar's jumper started the run before Sutton joined the scoring column with a triple to cut the deficit to 11.

The Wolfpack would take its largest lead of the contest early in the fourth when DD Rogers' free throw put them up 17 with 8:26 left.

However, there was no quit in the Black Bears. Rossignol would have the answer for Maine as she would knock down a trio of triples over a four minute span to trim the NC State advantage to 12.

Rossignol's fifth trey of the day moved the score to 63-51 late in the fourth; which would ultimately be the final as the Black Bears would fall by 12 in their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

-UMaine-