Second half comeback falls short at Tulane

Thursday, December 21

New Orleans, LA

2:30 PM

University of Maine

7-6,0-0America East

Tulane University

7-4,0-0AAC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Maine	9	18	16	18	61
Tulane	21	15	17	11	64

Photo by: Seth Poplaski

12/21/2023 4:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Black Bears battle back from down 16, come up short

New Orleans, La. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team trailed by as many as 16 at Tulane before trimming the deficit to just two late but were unable to inch closer, falling to the Green Wave by a final of 64-61 in the championship game of the Tulane Holiday Tournament.

After Caroline Bornemann cut the deficit to three with 1:07 to play, the Black Bears had three chances to tie or take the lead but would come up short in the attempts.

Adrianna Smith posted 18 of her game-high 25 points in the second half to go along with five assists to lead the Black Bears while Anne Simon added 18 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. For Simon, the 18 point effort stretched her double-digit scoring streak to seven-straight.

Maine finished the game 24-of-54 (44.4) from the floor while hitting six triples and going 7-of-11 from the free throw stripe.

The Black Bears dug themselves into an early hole as they trailed 21-5 with 1:11 left in the first quarter.

Maine answered with a 9-0 run to cut the lead down to eight on a pair of free throws from Sarah Talon. Following a Tulane bucket, Simon knocked down a three to bring Maine within seven with 7:07 left in the half.

Tulane extended the lead back out to 14 before the Black Bears closed the half on an 8-3 run to enter the break trailing by nine.

Maine found itself down by 15 midway through the third but responded, chipping the lead down to 10 with a 5-0 run to end the period. The sprint extended into the fourth, becoming a 9-0 run to bring the Black Bears within six.

Trailing by seven with 6:48 to play, Smith worked her way inside for a layup before Simon's triple off her own offensive rebound brought Maine all the way back within a pair with 3:21 to play.

Tulane pushed the lead back out to five before Bornemann's bucket in the paint trimmed the advantage to three.

Maine snagged a defensive board on the ensuing possession but was unable to score after Tulane forced a turnover. The Green Wave gave it right back to Maine on a turnover but, again, the Black Bears' jumper on the next possession would come up short as Tulane snagged the rebound.

A jump ball tie-up forced by Smith returned the possession to Maine where Simon was fouled outside the three-point arc. Simon would hit the first free throw, miss the second, and intentionally miss the third. Maine was unable to grab the late rebound off the free throw miss and were forced to foul.

Tulane hit one of two free throws as Maine had another chance to tie. However, a turnover returned the ball to Tulane who held on for the 64-61 victory.

Maine concludes non-conference play on Dec. e0 when it travels to take on Penn at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-