Providence, R.I. -- After suffering a season-ending knee injury in Maine's sixth game of the 2019-20 season, Blanca Millan made a statement in her return to the court. Millan's 30 points and career-high 14 rebounds helped lift Maine to a 62-48 victory on the road at Providence in Thursday afternoon's season opener at Alumni Hall. The victory extended Maine's consecutive wins streak to 11 dating back to last season.

Millan, who registered her fifth career double-double, bested the 30 point plateau for the fourth time in her career and in her second-straight season opener after dropping a career-high 37 points in last season's opener at Delaware. The fifth-year guard finished 13-of-25 from the floor with a trio of 3-point field goals, three assists, and three steals while moving into 32nd on the America East all-time scorers list with 1,577 points.

Abbe Laurence, making her second career start, added 10 points and nine boards, six of which coming on the offensive end.

Maine, which led by as many as 21, controlled the boards with a 41-33 advantage and finished the contest 25-of-61 from the floor. The Black Bears used a 14-4 second quarter scoring advantage to separate themselves from the Friars.

Millan and the Black Bears got off to a hot start in their first game in 277 days as Millan rattled home a triple to start followed by a quick jumper. Dor Saar's bucket extended the Maine lead to 8-0 with just three minutes gone in the first.

An 10-2 run from the Friars gave the hosts a 14-13 lead late in the first. However, Millan's three gave the Black Bears a lead they would not relinquish.

Simon's buzzer-beater from downtown to end the first quarter began an 11-0 run by the Black Bears, who saw their lead grow to 11 on a jumper from Millan with 4:32 left in the first half.

The second quarter lead was extended as Maine closed the half on a 6-2 run to carry a 33-20 advantage into the break.

Maine began the second half much like it did the first, putting together an 8-0 run when Millan's triple off a feed from Simon gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the game, 41-20.

However, Providence would look to fight back as it staged a 22-7 run in the third, cutting the deficit down to nine on a buzzer-beating triple to end the period.

It would be as close as the Friars would get. Maine again opened a quarter with an 8-0 run, using the surge to start the fourth to build a 56-39 lead.

The Black Bears would cruise the remainder of the way, sealing the deal on a 62-48 victory for their 11th consecutive win and moving to 5-1 in its last six season opening contests.

Maine jumps right back into action tomorrow when it travels to take on Rhode Island at 6 p.m.

-UMaine-