Albany, N.Y. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team earned its 10th-straight win and moved to 9-0 on the road in conference play with a 49-45 victory at UAlbany on Wednesday evening. The victory clinched the top seed in the America East playoffs for the Black Bears. It marks the fourth time in the past five seasons in which Maine will enter the postseason tournament as the top seed.

Paula Gallego knocked down three triples on her way to a career-high 13 points while Anne Simon extended her double-digit scoring streak to 18 in a row with a 13 point outing.

Maine's defense continued its impressive play as it was able to hold its ninth opponent of the season under 50 points while forcing the Great Danes into 22 turnovers while compiling 16 steals in the victory. The Black Bears have now forced 20+ turnovers in each of their last three outings.

The Black Bears took the lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter and would never trail again. The Black Bears built their largest lead of the game in the first quarter after putting together a 9-0 run. Simon started the sprint with a triple before buckets by Maeve Carroll and Alba Orois put Maine up by seven. Simon, working off a turnover, scooped up an offensive rebound and capitalized for two to give Maine its largest lead of the first half, 13-4.

UAlbany chipped the deficit to a pair after a 9-2 run cut the lead to 15-13 midway through the second quarter.

Gallego and Olivia Rockwood had the answer, knocking down back-to-back triples, extending Maine's lead back out to eight.

Maine led by seven at the half and was able to push the lead out to double-figures when Gallego opened the second half scoring with another triple. After a UAlbany bucket, Gallego once again answered, knocking down her third triple. A free throw by Carroll followed as Maine was able to build its largest lead of the night, 30-18.

UAlbany would not go quietly. With Maine leading by 11 in the fourth quarter, the Great Danes were able to piece together a 8-1 run. The sprint cut the lead to four but it would be as close as UAlbany would get. The Black Bears executed down the stretch, securing the 49-45 victory to improve to 13-3 in America East play.

Maine concludes its regular season schedule when it hosts UMBC for a two-game weekend series. The two teams will meet on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. at The Pit before closing the series on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center.

-UMaine-