ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (8-10, 3-2) jumped out to an 8-0 lead on Vermont (14-5, 3-1) but was unable to hold on, falling to the visiting Catamounts by a final of 64-53 on Thursday evening at Skip Chappelle Court.

Adrianna Smith stretched her double-digit scoring streak to 13 games as she posted 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Sarah Talon extended her double-digit scoring streak to four as she also added 15 points with three triples and six rebounds. Lala Woods contributed eight points as the Black Bears combined to shoot 21-of-51 (41.2). 

Vermont controlled the boards, outrebounding Maine by a 36-23 margin, in a game which featured three lead changes and three ties.

Maine started fast, jumping out to an 8-0 lead as it was able to hold Vermont off the scoreboard for the game's opening 4:11. Olivia Alvarez opened the scoring with a triple before Talon dialed up a trey off a turnover. Smith's bucket, also coming off a Vermont turnover, gave Maine an 8-0 lead just 3:47 into the contest.

Vermont rallied and answered, ending the first quarter on a 15-4 run to take a three point lead into the second.

The Black Bears staged a 7-0 run, starting with a triple from Talon before Woods cashed in on a bucket while drawing a foul. Woods' made free throw regained a three-point lead for Maine early in the second.

Vermont answered, this time with an 18-1 run, to take its largest lead of the half at 33-19 with 1:29 left in the first half.

Maine closed out the second quarter with a 5-0 run to trim the deficit to nine, 33-24, at the break.

The Catamounts posted a 9-of-12 showing from the floor in the third quarter to help them expand their lead out to 18 in the third. 

Maine was unable to cut the deficit under double-digits in the second half, ultimately falling to the preseason favorite Catamounts by a final of 64-53.

The Black Bears return to action when they travel to take on New Hampshire in the Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle on Saturday at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-