BALTIMORE, Md. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team fought off a slow start in Baltimore, battling back to outscore UMBC 22-8 in the second quarter en route to its eighth consecutive victory, a 66-54 triumph in the regular season finale. Maine finishes the regular season at 16-14 overall and 12-4 in America East play.

Maeve Carroll registered her ninth double-double of the season, and her eighth in league play, after finishing with a game-high 23 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Anne Simon turned in her eighth-straight double-digit scoring performance with 17 points and seven boards while Dor Saar added 10 points and six assists. For Saar, who entered second in the America East in assists, the six helpers marked her eighth-straight game with five or more assists.

UMBC built a 17-10 lead after one, ending the first quarter on a 10-0 run.

The Black Bears had the answer in the second, opening with a 10-1 sprint to take a two point advantage midway through the period. Carroll worked her way to the free throw line for a pair to pull Maine within one. After a UMBC bucket, Carroll's offensive putback knotted things at 18 before two free throws from Simon put Maine up by a pair, 20-18.

The Retrievers tied it at 20 before Maine went on another run, this one a 9-0 sprint to extend the lead to 29-20. Four free throws came before a triple by Kelly Fogarty as Maine led by nine with 1:54 left in the half. The lead would reach double-digits for the first time in the game shortly after on a trey from Maddy McVicar. The Black Bears carried a 32-25 advantage into the break.

UMBC started the third strong, chipping away and eventually taking a 40-39 lead after beginning the period with a 15-7 run.

The Retrievers' were unable to hold the lead for long. A 7-2 run by the Black Bears, keyed on a triple by McVicar, extended the visitor's lead back out to four midway through the quarter.

The lead would remain at four, 50-46, entering the final period of play.

Maine opened the fourth with a 6-0 run with buckets from Simon, Saar and Carroll extended the advantage back out to 10. UMBC was only able to close the gap to six as the Black Bears held the hosts scoreless over the final 3:53 to seal a 66-54 lead.

Maine opens postseason play on Wednesday, March 4 in the America East quarterfinal round at Cross Insurance Center at 7 p.m. For tickets, please visit TicketMaster.com or purchase in-person at the Cross Insurance Center box office.

-UMaine-