Troy, N.Y. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (13-13, 9-5 America East) led UAlbany (19-10, 13-2 AE) by four with just over three minutes remaining in regulation but were unable to hold on, falling by a final of 53-50 to the Great Danes on Saturday evening.

Adrianna Smith paced Maine with a game-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds and two steals. Smith, who finished 10-of-16 from the floor, registered her 12th performance this season of 20 or more points, including in her last five outings. Paula Gallego added 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, her second time in double-figures in her last four outings.

In a game which featured seven lead changes and four ties, Maine controlled the boards by a 30-27 margin while finishing the contest 22-of-48 from the floor, 3-of-15 from three point range, and 3-for-6 from the free throw line.

After taking a 10-6 lead after one quarter, UAlbany extended its lead to eight, its largest of the contest, with 7:33 left in the first half. 

Maine, trailing by seven with just over six minutes left in the second quarter, put together an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Smith's layup started the run before back-to-back triples from Sarah Talon and Caroline Bornemann gave Maine a 16-15 advantage. 

UAlbany ended the half on a 5-1 run to carry a 20-17 edge into the break.

Maine posted a strong third quarter in which it outscored the Great Danes 21-13 over the 10 minute span. 

The Black Bears tallied the first two buckets of the quarter, trimming the lead to a pair. 

UAlbany extended its lead back out to three before buckets from Sera Hodgson and Smith put Maine back on top, 32-31, with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Great Danes answered, retaking a four point edge, before Maine closed out the quarter with a 6-0 run as Talon's left-handed driving bucket put Maine ahead, 40-38, after three.

UAlbany knotted the score once again early in the fourth before Maine answered, this time with a 5-0 run. Talon closed the sprint with three-straight points as Maine took its largest lead of the night, 45-40, with 6:31 on the clock.

The Great Danes answered with a 10-1 run to snatch the lead back, 52-48, with 2:28 to play.

Smith answered wth a bucket, trimming the lead to a pair with 1:29 on the clock.

A missed three point attempt by UAlbany trickled out of bounds, giving the ball back to Maine with 25.1 seconds on the clock. However, Maine would come up short on three-straight shot attempts, ultimately turning the ball back over to UAlbany with six seconds remaining. A foul by Bornemann sent UAlbany to the line. The Great Danes hit one of two, extending the lead to three. 

The Black Bears had a shot to tie it with a triple late, but the shot fell short as UAlbany escaped wth a 53-50 victory.

Maine is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 25 when it hosts New Hampshire in the Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-