Box Score Orono, Maine -- Blanca Millan's driving bucket with 17-seconds remaining in regulation proved to be the difference as the Black Bears improved to 3-0 with a 63-62 victory at Northeastern on Sunday afternoon.

Millan guided the Black Bears in the win, finishing with a game-high 34 points to go along with nine rebounds, three steals, and a pair of blocks. Millan, who bested 30 points for the second time this season and the fifth time in her career, completed the effort 14-of-22 from the field with a trio of triples. Dor Saar chipped in eight points and a season-high six assists while Fanny Wadling, seeing her first game-action since March 23, 2019, registered two points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of blocks.

Maine forced Northeastern into 20 turnovers and controlled action down low, outscoring the Huskies by a 34-14 advantage in the paint. The Black Bears assisted on 15 of their 26 field goals, finished at 46 percent from the floor overall.

Maine, which led by as many as 10 points in the contest, held Northeastern scoreless over the final 2:15, including an 0-for-3 effort in the game's final nine seconds.

It was a seesaw opening 10 minutes, featuring four lead changes and two ties, in the first quarter of action. Saar's 3-point field goal at the buzzer broke a 13-13 tie, giving Maine a three point edge heading into the second quarter.

Maine opened things up in the second quarter as it was able to build a 10-point cushion following a 7-0 run. After Northeastern cut the lead to three, Saar's driving layup began the 7-0 sprint. Saar found Millan for two before, on the ensuing offensive possession, Alba Orois hit Millan for a triple, pushing Maine's lead to 28-18.

Millan registered 10 of her game-high 34 points in the third quarter, including Maine's first eight points of the quarter, as Maine rebuilt an eight point advantage. Northeastern answered with an 8-0 run, cutting the Maine advantage to a pair. A late elbow jumper from Wadling sent Maine into the break with a 32-26 edge.

The Huskies continued to chip away, whittling the lead down to three early in the fourth. The run was answered by a 5-0 sprint from Maine when a triple from Millan and a pair of Anne Simon free throws stretched Maine's lead back to eight.

Northeastern's 9-1 run knotted things at 55-all with 4:49 remaining in regulation.

Maine snatched a 61-57 advantage on four-straight points from Millan before the Huskies again rallied. A 5-0 run from Northeastern, ending with a triple from Kendall Currence, gave Northeastern its first lead since the first quarter, with 2:15 on the clock.

Neither team would score over the game's next 1:58 until Millan again made the difference. Anne Simon pulled down an offensive rebound off a missed layup before another miss from Maine, this time from three, was deflected out of bounds by Northeastern. Millan controlled the ball off the inbound, driving to the hole for a pair to put Maine on top, 63-62, with 17-seconds left.

Northeastern would have its chances, missing three attempts in the game's final nine seconds, as the Black Bears moved to 3-0 with a 62-62 road victory.

The Black Bears begin America East play on Tuesday when they travel to open a two-game series at Hartford. Tip-off on Tuesday and Wednesday is set for 1 p.m

-UMaine-