Orono, Maine -- For the seventh consecutive season, and 21st time overall, the University of Maine women's basketball team will compete in the America East Championship game as the Black Bears earned a 72-48 victory over NJIT in Tuesday evening's semifinal contest.

The Black Bears, who never trailed in the contest, stretched their win streak to 14 in a row and picked up their 20th overall win on the season with the victory. Maine was clicking on both ends of the court as the offensive assisted on 24 of its 29 made field goals while the defense forced 19 turnovers and finished with a 31-5 edge in points off the mishaps.

Individually, Maine featured four scorers in double-digits led by Alba Orois' game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go along with seven assists. Maeve Carroll packed the stat sheet with her 18th career double-double after notching 16 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Caroline Bornemann finished with 12 points while Anne Simon added 11 points and five assists.

Orois and the Black Bears grabbed an early 11 point edge as the sophomore point guard nailed a triple off a turnover to end a 6-0 first quarter run.

The Black Bears, who would lead by 13 after one quarter, saw its lead dip to seven midway through the second before another run stretched the deficit back to double-figures. A quick 5-0 swing, keyed by a three from Bornemann, put Maine back on top by 12 with 5:09 left in the half.

Maine would enter the break with a 36-24 edge.

NJIT would not go quietly. A 10-2 run early in the third quarter from the Highlanders cut the lead to six. However, it would be as close as NJIT would get in the second half.

Maine answered the 10-2 run with an 10-2 sprint of its own as a bucket from Orois as the third quarter horn sounded put Maine back on top by 14.

The Black Bears would put the game away in the fourht, outscoring the Highlanders 22-12 in the period to secure the semifinal victory, 72-48.

Maine will host No. 2 UAlbany in the America East Championship game on Friday, March 11 at 5 p.m. inside Memorial Gymnasium. Tickets for the championship game are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting GoBlackBears.com.tickets, by phone at 207.581.BEAR, or in person at the UMaine Athletics box office, located at Alfond Arena.

-UMaine-