Burlington, Vt. -- The Black Bears (18-8, 11-1 America East), who trailed by as many as 12 in the first half at Vermont (18-9, 10-3 AE), battled back to complete a 57-55 win over the Catamounts on Saturday afternoon. The victory, which completed the season sweep over the defending America East champions, extended Maine's win streak to six in a row.

Maine has now totaled double-digit conference wins in seven-straight season.

Anne Simon, who shot 7-of-14 from the floor, tallied 11 of her 16 points in the second quarter alone while adding five steals and four rebounds. Simon, who has now scored 1,820 points in her career, moved past Heather Ernest and into sixth on Maine's all-time scoring list in the game.

Adrianna Smith ran her double-digit scoring streak to 14-straight as she finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Sarah Talon matched her season-high with 15 points.

Maine, which entered play ranked 17th in the country in turnovers per game, limited itself to single digit turnovers for the fifth time this season and the second-straight outing with just eight giveaways while forcing 17 Vermont mishaps.

The contest featured 11 lead changes and eight ties as the Black Bears shot 20-of-52 (38.5) from the floor, 5-of-17 from three-point range, and hit 12-of-18 free throws.

Maine dug itself in an early hole after shooting just 25.0 percent in the opening quarter while the Catamounts came out red hot, hitting at a 66.7 percent clip over the game's opening 10 minutes. Vermont closed the first quarter with a 14-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 20-8, into the second.

The Black Bears were only able to shrink the deficit to eight at the half.

Maine continued its rate of solid third quarter play as it outscored the Catamounts 22-11 in the period.

Trailing by nine with 8:30 left in the third, the Black Bears put together a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the contest. A corner triple from Talon started the sprint before Simon's three off an offensive board from Olivia Rockwood, cut the deficit to three. Talon's driving layup off a turnover brought Maine to within one before Smith's elbow jumper gave Maine the lead, 35-34.

Vermont responded to grab a four point lead before Maine answered, this time putting together a 7-0 run. Talon completed the sprint with a hard driving layup. The guard would draw a foul on the play before completing the old fashioned three-point play to give Maine its largest lead of the game, 45-41.

Maine would enter the fourth quarter with a 46-43 advantage.

Vermont took a two point lead on a pair of free throws from Emma Utterback early in the fourth quarter for the first of four lead changes in the fourth quarter.

The Catamounts would lead by one with 4:04 to play before Maine pieced together a 5-0 sprint to take the lead for good. A pair of free throws from Smith put Maine up by one before Caroline Bornemann's three from the top of the key as the shot clock expired put the Black Bears on top by four.

Vermont cut the lead to a pair late and was forced to foul. Maine would miss both free throw tries, giving the Catamounts a chance late. However, Vermont's reverse layup try would fall short as Maine snatched the rebound to secure the victory, 57-55.

Maine continues America East play when it travels to take on UMBC on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

-UMaine-