NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team, which trailed by as many as 17 on Friday, cut the deficit to just two but were unable to take the lead as it fell 64-54 to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in the opening round of the Turkey Tip-Off hosted by Iona.

Asta Blauenfeldt extended her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games as she led the Black Bears with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Adrianna Smith, playing in her 100th career game, added 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals while Sarah Talon chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five steals.

Maine shot 19-of-55 (34.5) from the floor, with a 3-of-22 showing from three-point range, and won the turnover battle by a 17-15 margin. The Black Bears also recorded a season-best 13 made free throws, hitting 13-of-17 on the day.

The Black Bears trailed 16-8 after one quarter and 34-22 at the half before staging their comeback to begin the second half.

UIC opened the third quarter scoring with a bucket before Maine answered with a 9-0 run. Emmie Streams started the sprint with a driving layup before a Talon bucket cut the deficit to 10. Blauenfeldt's layup preceded her triple as Maine found itself down by just five with 6:29 left in the third.

Just over three minutes later, back-to-back buckets from Talon brought Maine back within three late in the third.

Lizzy Gruber's triple ended the third as the Black Bears entered the final quarter trailing, 45-41.

The Flames extended their lead out to six, 51-45, with 7:44 to play before Maine staged another run. 

Talon again cashed in on a driving layup before Kaliyah Sain drew a foul and hit both free throws. The two makes cut the UIC lead all the way down to a pair with 6:31 to play.

However, it would be as close as Maine could get as UIC closed out the game with seven free throws down the stretch to escape with a 64-54 victory.

Maine will take on Saint Francis on the final day of the Turkey Tip-Off on Saturday at noon.

-UMaine-