New Orleans, La. -- Four Black Bears posted double-digit scoring efforts as the University of Maine women's basketball team opened the Tulane Holiday Tournament with a 80-72 victory over Duquesne on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaycie Christopher led Maine in scoring with a career-high seven three point field goals for 21 points. Anne Simon (19 pts/11 rebs) and Adrianna Smith (8 pts/15 rebs/10 assists) each added double-doubles while Caroline Bornemann added 13 points. Paula Gallego hit a trio of threes, ending with a season-high 11 point effort.

Maine, which featured a efficient offense with a season-high 23 assists on 28 field goals, posted a season-high 14 triples while winning the rebounding battle, 40-29. The Black Bears turned 12 offensive rebounds into a 16-2 advantage in second change points.

The Black Bears, who led by five after one quarter, used a 22-9 run in the second quarter to distance themselves.

After Duquesne opened the second period on a 6-0 run, Maine answered with a 6-0 run of its own to race the lead back out to five. Back-to-back triples from Anna Kahelin and Bornemann pushed the advantage out to nine.

Maine ended the half on a 6-0 run as Sarah Talon's fastbreak bucket gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the game, 44-32.

The Dukes opened the second half on a 15-1 run to trim the deficit down to a pair.

However, Duquesne could never get over the hump to take the lead.

A 10-2 Maine run stretched the advantage back out to double-digits. Gallego's bucket, off an offensive board, came before a Gallego triple brought the lead to 57-47.

The Dukes were able to trim the deficit to three, twice in the fourth quarter, but it would be as close as they could get. An 8-2 run, with back-to-back triples from Christopher, helped put the game away.

Maine hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the win, 80-72.

The Black Bears return to action tomorrow when they take on Tulane in the Holiday Tournament championship at 2:30 p.m. ET.

-UMaine-