BANGOR, Maine -- Maeve Carroll registered another monster performance against the Vermont, registering her third double-double against the Catamounts this season, to help guide No. 2 Maine to a 78-66 victory in the America East quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Center.

With the win, Maine advances to its sixth consecutive America East semifinal where it will host No. 3 UMass Lowell on Sunday, March 8 at 1 p.m. at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gymnasium in Orono.

The quarterfinal contest featured nine lead changes, eight of which come in the game's first 5:03, before the Black Bears were able to take the lead early in the second and never trail again.

Carroll finished the night with 22 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high nine assists for her 10th double-double of the season and ninth against an America East opponent. Dor Saar turned in a masterful effort with 21 points on 5-of-11 from 3-point range to go along with six assists. For Saar, it marked her third-straight game in double-digits and her ninth-consecutive performance of five assists or more. America East Rookie of the Year Anne Simon stretched her double-figure scoring streak to nine with 15 points and seven rebounds while Maddy McVicar rounded out four Black Bears in double-digits, finishing with 14 points.

Like it has done all season, Maine was able to strike from 3-point range while also taking care of the ball. The Black Bears turned in an amazing 19-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio while going 12-of-31 from downtown.

The Black Bears, who assisted on 19 of their 25 field goals, finished 16-of-20 from the free throw line.

After eight lead changes early in the first, Vermont was able to build a six point edge on a jumper from Emma Utterback with 1:25 left in the opening quarter.

Maine responded with an 11-0 run, its longest scoring streak of the evening. A late triple from McVicar ended the first quarter before Anna Kahelin's three early in the second knotted the score at 22-22. Maine would go on to build a 27-22 advantage on five-straight points from Carroll.

The Catamonuts clawed away, tying the game for a third time at 32-all with 2:08 left in the half.

Maine once again answered the surge, putting together a 5-0 sprint when McVicar's triple pushed the host's lead back out to five.

The Black Bears would enter the half leading 39-35.

While leading by two early in the third, Maine staged a 15-6 run to help it take its largest lead of the contest. Holding on to a six point lead, Maine put together a 5-0 sprint as part of its 15-6 surge. McVicar would draw a foul on a made bucket, completing the three-point play to lift Maine's lead to 58-47 with 4:15 left in the third quarter.

The lead shrunk to four late in the third before Maine again answered. A 5-0 run was capped by Saar's triple in the early stages of the fourth, shifting Maine's lead back out to nine.

The Catamounts put together one last comeback effort, shrinking the deficit down to five, but Maine would end strong. The Black Bears held Vermont scoreless over the final 3:48 of the contest, ending on a 7-0 run to secure the 78-66 victory.

Maine will host UMass Lowell on Sunday, March 8 at The Pit in an America East clash. For tickets, please visit GoBlackBears.com or call the UMaine Athletics box office at 207-581-BEAR.

-UMaine-