BANGOR, Maine -- Maddy McVicar led four Black Bears in double-figures, registering a career-high 25 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range, to help lift Maine to its fourth-straight victory in a 77-53 win against visiting UMass Lowell on Wednesday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.

The victory lifted Maine to a tie with the River Hawks for second place in the America East standings with four league games remaining.

The Black Bears, who entered as the America East leaders in 3-point field goals made per game, strengthened the stat by going 15-of-35 from distance including a 10-for-19 showing in the first half. Maine, which assisted on 19 of its 25 field goals, also forced 21 UMass Lowell turnovers and used the impressive defensive effort to outscore the River Hawks 27-8 in points off turnovers.

McVicar, who tallied 16 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, shined from outside with her career-point scoring night helped by a career-best six 3-point field goals made. Maeve Carroll, the reigning America East Player of the Week, added her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring effort with 15 points and eight boards while Kelly Fogarty knocked down four triples en route to a 14 point night. Anne Simon, with double-digits in each of her last four and 12 of her last 14, chipped in 10 points on the evening. Dor Saar continued to advance up Maine's all-time assists leaderboard as her six helpers gave her 378 for her career, jumping Chrissy Strong to move into sixth.

The Black Bears' offense wasted no time getting in a rhythm. Maine hit five of its first six from beyond the arc in the game's first six minutes. Leading by three in the early stages, the Black Bears put together its longest run of the contest. A jumper from Carroll started the run followed by four unanswered triples, two from McVicar and two from Dor Saar, as Maine found itself up 22-5 with 3:47 left in the first quarter.

Maine's lead was trimmed to 11 before the Black Bears got hot again from the floor. A 10-2 run, capped with McVicar's fourth triple of the half, extended the lead out to 19 midway through the second quarter. Following a UMass Lowell bucket, it was again McVicar from outside, this time her three lifting Maine's lead out to 20.

The 3-point fun kept rolling as triples from Fogarty and Saar, and a free throw from McVicar, gave Maine its largest lead of the half, 42-17.

UMass Lowell ended the second period on a 5-0 run but Maine remained up by 20 entering the break.

The deficit dwindled to 16 early in the third before another offensive spurt from the Black Bears extended the lead once again. Anne Simon joined the 3-point party as her field goal from downtown built Maine's lead to its largest of the night, 26, with 3:01 left in the third.

Maine cruised through the fourth, with its lead never dipping below 21 the rest of the way, as the Black Bears scored their fourth-straight win, 77-53.

Maine hits the road for its next America East contest when it visits UAlbany on Saturday, Feb. 15 for a 5 p.m. tip live on ESPN+.

-UMaine-