ORONO, Maine -- Anne Simon poured in a game-high 22 points while Maeve Carroll added her sixth double-double of the season as the University of Maine women's basketball team defeated visiting Vermont, 70-59 on Wednesday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.

Maine, which has now won 10-straight at home against the Catamounts, improved to 6-4 in league play after outscoring Vermont 38-24 in the paint and finishing 25-of-60 (41.7) from the floor. The Black Bears were also clutch from the free throw line, hitting 14-of-17 to help seal the win late from the free throw line.

Simon, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, finished in double-figures for the 14th time this season, besting 20 for the third time in her career after going 9-of-16 with a trio of triples for 22 points. Carroll, who recorded a double-double in her last outing with the Catamounts, picked up right where she left off in Burlington with yet another double-double. The junior forward posted 19 points, 11 coming in the first half, and 14 boards in the win while Dor Saar joined the duo in double-digits with 14 points and five assists.

The Black Bears started slow, allowing Vermont to jump out to a 7-2 advantage midway through the first. However, the Black Bears would respond and end the period strong. Maine closed the final five minutes of the opening quarter on a 13-2 run. The Black Bears, who held Vermont scoreless over a five minute span, began the run with a jumper from Carroll before Kelly Fogarty's triple tied the score at seven. Two bucks from Simon followed before Kira Barra's jumper lifted the lead to 15-7. Vermont was finally able to break the run as a late bucket sent Maine into the second with a 15-9 edge.

Vermont mounted a 15-4 run to start the second, giving it a 24-19 advantage with 5:50 remaining in the first half.

Maine regrouped and was able to close the second period strong. The Black Bears pieced together an 8-0 run, again holding the Catamounts scoreless for almost a five minute stretch, to build the lead back to three. A deep bucket from the Catamounts ended the half as Maine carried a 27-26 lead into the break.

Maine rebounded off its poor shooting performance in the second quarter to go 8-of-15 in the third. The lead grew to eight on four-straight points from Carroll with 6:53 left in the third.

But the Catamounts would again respond. An 11-2 run from the visitors regained a two point lead when Delaney Richason's triple put Vermont up, 42-40.

For the third time in the contest, Maine was able to rebound and end the period strong. Simon, who registered 10 points in the quarter, matched Richason's triple with one of her own, regaining the lead for Maine while jump starting a 9-2 run which guided the Black Bears to a 49-44 lead after three.

Vermont raced back early in the fourth to take a 50-49 lead before a 6-0 Maine run, ended on a deep three from Saar, put the hosts back up by five.

Maine kept rolling. Simon worked inside for two before sticking a fast break triple off a feed from Saar to lift the lead back out to nine.

The lead would not dip below four the rest of the way as Maine sealed the deal by hitting 8-of-9 from the free throw stripe down the stretch to capture a 70-59 victory.

Maine continues its homestand on Sunday, Feb. 9 when it hosts Binghamton at 1 p.m. The game marks Maine's annual Play4Kay game in which the Black Bears will be sporting their pink jerseys to raise awareness of breast cancer research. To help the Black Bears reach their goal of raising $500 in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, please click here. Tickets to Sunday's game may be purchased at TicketMaster.com or in-person at the Cross Insurance Center box office.