Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (14-8, 7-1 America East) remained undefeated at home in conference play as it defeated UMass Lowell (3-17, 3-5 AE) on Thursday evening at Memorial Gymnasium.

Adrianna Smith posted double-digit scoring for the 10th consecutive contest as she led all scorers with 25 points to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Smith now stands just 34 points away from 1,000 in her career. Anne Simon, who left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, posted 15 points and nine rebounds while Caroline Bornemann added six points and eight rebounds.

Maine, which never trailed in the contest, won the rebounding battle for the eighth consecutive outing as it posted a 40-31 advantage on the glass while shooting 27-63 (42.9) from the floor.

The Black Bears held UMass Lowell to just seven points in the third quarter as it held its eighth opponent to 50 points or fewer on the season.

Maine led by as many as seven in the first quarter before carrying a four point advantage, 18-14, in the second.

Simon opened the second quarter with back-to-back triples, giving Maine its first double-digit lead of the evening at 24-14 with 8:35 left in the half.

Still leading by 10 midway through the period, the Black Bears closed the quarter on 10-3 run. Gallego's hoop and the harm put Maine up 13. Following a UMass Lowell bucket, Simon stuck another triple to ignite Maine. Smith closed the half with a pair of buckets, elevating Maine's lead to 38-21 at the half.

Maine scored the first three points of the second half as Anna Kahelin's steal and coast-to-coast bucket put Maine up 20 early in the third.

After the River Hawks cut the lead down to 18, Maine responded with a 9-2 run to take its largest lead of the night, 50-25, with 5:30 remaining on the third quarter.

A 12-4 run from UMass Lowell cut the deficit back down to 17 with three complete in the books.

Maine regrouped to start the fourth, opening the quarter with a 5-0 run on another bucket and the foul from Gallego. The sprint put Maine back up by 22.

The lead would not shrink below 16 the rest of the way as Maine cruised to its seventh league victory, 68-49.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday when they travel to meet Bryant at 2 p.m.

-UMaine-