Newark, N.J. --
Adrianna Smith and
Anne Simon each tallied double-doubles as the University of Maine defeated NJIT, 72-46, on Saturday afternoon.
The win moves Maine, which led by as many as 26 in the game, to 19-9 overall and 12-2 in America East play while NJIT slips to 10-17, 2-12 in the conference.
Smith posted her league-leading 20th double-double of the season behind a 25 point, 13 rebound effort to go along with four assists, three steals, and three blocks. Smith has now scored 10 or more points in 16-straight outings. Simon picked up her second double-double in as many outings, stretching her double-digit scoring streak to seven in a row with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Sarah Talon and
Paula Gallego each added eight points in the win.
The Black Bears outscored NJIT 38-19 in the second half, including a 22-9 advantage in the third quarter, to pull away from the Highlanders.
Maine finished the day 28-63 (44.4%) from the floor with 10 triples while holding NJIT to 32.1 percent shooting while forcing 18 Highlander turnovers.
The Black Bears, who led by one after the first quarter, began to distance itself early in the second. An 11-2 run from Maine to start the second quarter, with back-to-back triples from Talon and Smith, gave the visitors a 10 point advantage with 5:57 to play in the half.
Maine would lead by seven, 34-27, entering the break.
The Black Bears shot 9-of-18, 4-of-8 from three, in the third quarter to continue to grow the gap.
A 15-3 run, starting with consecutive triples from
Olivia Rockwood, built Maine's lead out to 19. Following an NJIT bucket, Gallego would end the third with a triple to put Maine on top by 20 entering the final quarter.
Maine started the fourth on a 6-0 run with back-to-back buckets from Smith before Gallego's deep jumper gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the afternoon, 62-36.
The lead would not shrink below 18 the rest of the way as Maine cruised to its 12th conference victory, 72-46.
The Black Bears return to action when they host Binghamton on Feb. 29 at 6 p.m.
-UMaine-