Bangor, Maine -- For the third consecutive season, the University of Maine women's basketball team begins conference play 1-0 after registering an 87-73 victory over visiting Hartford in the America East opener for both teams on Thursday evening. With the win, Maine improves to 40-3 in its last 43 conference games at the Cross Insurance Center, stretching its consecutive home conference game win streak to 19.

Four Black Bears tallied 15 points or more, led by Kelly Fogarty's game-high 23. Fogarty finished the night 7-of-11 from 3-point range while adding five rebounds in the win. Her seven triples tied her for third most makes in a single game in UMaine history.Maddy McVicar tallied all of her career-high 20 points in the second half, including 13 in the third quarter alone, while going 7-of-8 from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. McVicar was also perfect from the free throw line (3-3) and continues to be perfect (15-for-15) from the charity stripe this season.

Maeve Carroll filled the stat sheet with career-highs in both points, 18, and assists, 8, while adding eight boards. Anne Simon moved her double-digit streak to four in a row, and six of her last seven, with 15 points in her America East debut.

The Black Bears outscored Hartford 31-20 in the third quarter, going 13-of-18 (72.2) and 5-of-8 from 3-point range in the period, to help distance themselves from the Hawks in the second half. Maine assisted on 26 of its 34 buckets, led by Dor Saar's 11 assists, while turning the ball over just 10 times all night.

Maine also forced 22 Hartford turnovers while posting a scoring margin off turnovers of 27-11 on the evening. The Black Bears hit 12 of 26 attempts from 3-point range, its most makes against a Division-I opponent this season. Maine also racked up its best overall shooting performance against a Division I foe this year after hitting 34-of-67 (50.7) on the evening.

The contest, a rematch of each of the past two America East title games, featured four ties and three lead changes.

The first quarter featured back and forth action with neither team able to build a lead larger than four. After two ties and three lead changes in the opening eight minutes, Carroll's late jumper in the paint knotted the score at 15-all after one.

Maine began the second strong, staging an 11-2 run over the first 3:46 of the quarter. Another jumper from Carroll broke a 17-17 tie before Saar's fast break pull-up three extended the lead to five. Buckets by both Carroll and Saar completed the run as Maine held a 26-17 advantage with 7:14 left in the half.

Hartford responded with a 5-0 run, chipping the lead back to to four, before Maine again answered. Carroll's layup started a 9-3 run which saw Maine's lead grow to double-figures, 35-25, with 3:02 left in the second. Maine would enter the half holding a 37-31 advantage.

The Black Bears looked to put the game away in the third. Leading by four early in the quarter, Fogarty's fifth triple of the night started an 8-0 stretch by Maine. An offensive putback from McVicar came before the senior knocked down a three off a turnover, helping to push Maine's lead out to 12.

Leading by eight a short time later, it was again McVicar who caught fire. Maine was able to put together a rapid, 23-8 run. The Black Bears would go 10-of-12 from the floor over the next six minutes, to nab their largest lead of the night. A 9-1 run ended the sprint when Fogarty's sixth trey gave Maine a 23-point edge at 68-45 with 1:44 left in the third.

Maine entered the fourth quarter holding a 68-51 advantage. Maine was able to build the lead back to 23 on consecutive buckets by Saar and Carroll.

Hartford ended the game on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 14 but it would be too little, too late as the Black Bears improved to 1-0 in league play thanks to an 87-73 victory.

Maine continues America East play on Sunday, Jan. 5 when it travels to take on Stony Brook at 2 p.m.

-UMaine-