ORONO, Maine -- Asta Blauenfeldt poured in 22 points to lead the No. 4 seed University of Maine women's basketball team to a 65-51 America East quarterfinal victory over No. 5 NJIT on Thursday evening at Skip Chappelle Court.

The win advances Maine to the semifinal round for the 11th consecutive season as the Black Bears will travel to take on No. 1 UAlbany on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Blauenfeldt, who finished 9-of-14 from the floor with three triples, added a career-high matching nine rebounds to go along with two assists and a pair of steals in the win. Caroline Bornemann stretched her double-figure scoring streak to four in a row with 15 points, five rebounds, and a career-best seven assists. Sera Hodgson added 11 points with a trio of triples and two free throws.

Maine, which outscored NJIT 27-16 in the fourth quarter on 10-of-16 shooting, finished the night 24-for-55 from the floor (43.6) with 10 triples.

The Black Bears led by as many as 15 in the contest and held the advantage for 39:08 of the ballgame. 

Maine scored the first five points of the game and ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take an 18-10 lead into the second quarter.

The Black Bears took their first double-digit lead of the night when Hodgson opened the second with a triple to put Maine on top, 21-10.

The teams matched each other in scoring, 13-13, in the second quarter as the Black Bears carried a 31-23 advantage into the half.

Maine's lead grew back to 10 on Blauenfeldt's driving layup but NJIT would answer. The Highlanders put together an 11-1 run to take their first lead of the game, 36-34, with 2:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Hodgson ended the run with a triple to put Maine back on top and the Black Bears would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

Maine, leading by three after three quarters, started the fourth with a 7-0 run keyed on a corer triple from Sarah Talon. The sprint expanded Maine's lead back out to 10, 45-35, with 8:04 to play.

The lead continued to grow as three from Paula Gallego with 2:43 left in regulation gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the contest, 60-45.

Maine cruised down the stretch, securing the America East quarterfinal victory by a final of 65-51.

The Black Bears return to the America East semifinal on Monday, March 10 where they will travel to take on UAlbany at 6:30 p.m.

-UMaine-