Newark, N.J. -- For the second consecutive game, Adrianna Smith bested 30 points as the sophomore forward finished with a career-high 34 points to lead Maine past the New Jersey Institute of Technology, 69-63, on Saturday afternoon.

Smith, who finished 14-of-22 from the floor, added 10 rebounds and four assists for her eighth double-double of the season and fourth in as many games. Her 34 points were the most since Blanca Millan also tallied 34 in an outing against Northeastern in December of 2020.

Sera Hodgson hit a pair of triples and finished 4-of-4 from the floor for 12 points while Anne Simon added eight points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists. 

Maine, which held a decisive 32-21 advantage on the boards, forced 17 NJIT turnovers, 14 of which coming in the first half. The Black Bears turned in their best shooting effort of the season after going 27-of-49 from the floor for a season-high 55.1 percent mark.

Maine used a 24-13 scoring advantage in the second quarter to pull away in the first half. 

With the Black Bears on top by six with 3:11 left in the second quarter, Maine was able to end the half on a 12-6 run. Hodgson began the sprint with a bucket while drawing a foul. After her made free throw, Smith's layup put Maine up by 11. Still leading by 11 late in the quarter, Smith found Caroline Bornemann for a triple as Maine carried a 26-22 lead into the break.

Maine started the third on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the afternoon, 43-24, with 7:13 left in the quarter. 

However, NJIT put together a 17-3 run to end the period as Maine's lead shrunk to five, 46-41, entering the final quarter.

A 5-0 run by the Black Bears, on a bucket from Smith and a triple by Jaycie Christopher, extended Maine's advantage back out to 10 early in the fourth.

Maine held on to a nine point lead with 2:43 on the clock before NJIT staged a late charge with a 6-0 run, trimming the deficit down to three.

However, it would be as close as the Highlanders could get. The Black Bears ended the half on a 6-3 run, knocking down key free throws along the way, to move to 3-0 in league play with a 69-63 road win.

Maine is back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 11 when it travels to take on New Hampshire in a Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-