Lowell, Mass. -- Adrianna Smith posted her 10th double-double of the season as the Black Bears used a 21-8 second quarter scoring surge to defeat UMass Lowell by a final of 55-43 in Thursday evening conference opener.

Smith, who entered the game third in the country in double-doubles, finished the evening with 23 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. Anne Simon added 12 points and seven rebounds to run her double-figure scoring streak to nine in a row.

Maine's defense held the River Hawks to single digits in both the second (8) and third (6) quarters, holding the hosts to just 14 points in the 20 minute span. The 43 points marked a season low for points surrendered by the Black Bears while Maine also won the rebounding battle, 48-36.

Trailing by one after one, Maine opened the second quarter with a 12-4 run to take a seven point lead. Talon converted a layup while drawing a foul to put Maine up by a pair during the run before buckets from Sera Hodgson and Smith concluded the run.

A 7-0 run, capped by a triple from Jaycie Christopher, gave Maine its first double-digit lead of the game with 43-seconds left in the half.

Smith's bucket with two-seconds remaining in the second sent Maine into the break with a 39-27 edge.

Maine, which held UMass Lowell to just one field goal in the third quarter, pushed the lead out to 16 on Hodgson's triple as time expired in the period.

The Black Bears opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 run as Simon's layup with 2:18 left in regulation gave Maine's its largest lead of the night, 55-35.

Maine cruised the rest of the way to secure the victory by a final of 55-43.

The Black Bears return to action when they host the defending America East champions, Vermont, at Memorial Gym on Saturday at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-