Lowell, Mass. -- Adrianna Smith and Caroline Bornemann each registered double-figures as the Black Bears moved to 6-1 in America East play with a 61-50 victory at UMass Lowell (2-16, 1-7) on Wednesday.

Smith posted her conference leading 11th double-double of the season after tallying a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four assists. Bornemann, who registered her third double-double of the season, posted 10 points and 10 rebounds. Olivia Rockwood hit 4-of-6 from three point range with 14 points as Jaycie Christpher added two triples and rounded out Maine's four double-digit scorers with 10 points.

For the eighth time in their last nine outings, the Black Bears won the rebounding battle while forcing 17 UMass Lowell turnovers and holding the River Hawks to just 18-for-47 (38.3 percent) from the floor. Maine's defense limited UMass Lowell to single digit scoring in the first and third quarters.

The Black Bears, who shot 9-of-17 (52.9) in an impressive third quarter in which they outscored UMass Lowell 20-8, ended the game 25-of-58 (43.1) from the floor.

Maine, which never trailed in the contest, ended the first quarter on an 11-2 run to take a nine point lead into the second. Rockwood began the sprint with a triple and ended it with another at the horn as the Black Bears led, 17-8, after one.

The run extended to a 13-2 mark when Rockwood's layup to start the second gave Maine its first double-digit lead, 19-8, of the game.

UMass Lowell was able to scratch the deficit down to five but Maine responded with another strong end to the quarter. Christopher opened a 6-2 run with a triple before knocking down another one from beyond the arc as time expired in the opening half. 

Maine entered the break with a 27-18 advantage.

Smith began to take over in the second half as she tallied 11 of her 21 points in the third quarter. The sophomore forward scored the first nine points of the period for the Black Bears as Maine's lead jumped to 15 with 5:43 on the clock.

The Black Bears ended the quarter with a 6-0 run as a bucket from Smith and two by Bornemann lifted Maine's lead to 21 after three.

UMass Lowell cut the lead to 11 but it would be as close as the River Hawks could get as Maine earned the road victory, 61-50.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, Jan. 28 when they host UAlbany at 1 p.m. in a rematch of the 2022 America East Championship game. Tickets are available by calling 207.581.BEAR or online at GoBlackBears.com/tickets.

-UMaine-