Orono, Maine -- Adrianna Smith scored 18 of her career-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Black Bears moved to 2-0 in league play with a 70-63 victory over UMass Lowell on Wednesday evening.
Smith, who added 10 rebounds for her conference leading seventh double-double of the season, finished 11-of-17 from the field with five assists and 12 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Anne Simon added 17 points and nine boards while Caroline Bornemann finished with 14 points and a 4-of-6 mark from three-point range.
Maine, which led by 11 before falling behind by 10 with 6:01 to play, ended the game on a 24-7 run to earn the win.
The Black Bears finished the evening 24-of-56 from the floor (42.9), 7-of-22 from downtown (31.8) and posted season-highs in both free throws made (15) and free throws attempted (22).
Maine started out with the hot hand in the first quarter, hitting 4-of-8 from downtown including each of their first three, all from the hand of Bornemann.
After Bornemann opened the game with her first of three triples in a four minute span, her third triple at the 6:08 mark put Maine on top, 11-4.
UMass Lowell trimmed the lead to three before Maine answered with a 5-0 run. Another triple, this one from Simon, gave the hosts a six point advantage before the Black Bears took their largest lead of the first quarter, 16-8, on a layup off a turnover from Simon.
An 8-2 run from the River Hawks trimmed the lead to a pair midway through the second.
The Black Bears ended the first half strong, staging a 9-0 run as they held the River Hawks scoreless over the final 4:29 of the second quarter. Bornemann guided the way with a bucket and a three to elevate the lead to nine. Two free throws by Simon sent Maine into the half with its largest lead of the evening, 29-18.
UMass Lowell clawed its way back into the ballgame, beginning the second half with an 8-0 run to trim the deficit to three.
After Maine answered the run with a bucket, the River Hawks kept charging. Another run, this one an 8-2 sprint, gave the visitors their first lead of the evening, 36-35, with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
The run extended to 14-2 as the River Hawks' lead grew to five before Simon stopped the bleeding with a bucket while drawing a foul. Simon's bucket started a 7-0 run for Maine as the Black Bears regained the lead, 42-40, late in the third.
UMass Lowell pieced together a 7-0 run, ending the third quarter outscoring Maine 29-13 in the period to carry a 47-42 edge into the fourth.
The River Hawks took their largest lead of the night, 56-46, with 6:20 left in regulation.
Smith began the comeback for Maine as her bucket jump started a 12-1 run by the Black Bears. Smith, who hit four buckets during the stretch, cut the lead to one with 3:00 on the clock before Simon's triple put Maine back on top, 59-57, with 1:04 left.
A layup from UMass Lowell's Ivory Finley tied things at 59-59. Maine was unable to get a shot off on its next possession, sending the game to overtime.
Smith got Maine started in overtime with a field goal before UMass Lowell answered to once again knot the score.
On Maine's next trip down the floor, Smith rifled a pass out of the post to Jaycie Christopher who quickly moved it to Sera Hodgson. Hodgson knocked down a triple from the corner, giving Maine a three point edge. The Black Bears would not trail again.
The Black Bears kept UMass Lowell off the scoreboard for the final 2:16 of overtime and ended the game on a 4-0 to seal the victory and move to 2-0 in America East play with a 70-63 win.
Maine returns to action on Saturday when it travels to take on NJIT at 2 p.m.
-UMaine-
