VESTAL, N.Y. -- In a seesaw showdown, the University of Maine women's basketball team jumped out to an early 10-point lead, fell behind by 14, and clawed its way back to within two but were unable to complete the comeback, falling by a final of 62-57.

Adrianna Smith, who moved into sixth on Maine's all-time rebounding list with 908 career boards, led all scorers with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and three steals. Sarah Talon added 10 points and a team-high three assists.

The Black Bears finished 22-of-49 (44.9) from the floor.

Maine opened the game strong on the offensive end, starting on a 19-9 run to take its largest lead of the game with 2:40 left in the first quarter. Along the way, Smith followed her first triple of the afternoon with a bucket before Asta Blauenfeldt completed an 8-0 run to put Maine up nine.

The Black Bears would lead 22-13 after one.

Maine maintained its nine point edge but it was Binghamton who would end the half strong. After Maine regained a nine point lead, the Bearcats would answer by ending the second quarter on a 22-6 run to gain a 37-30 advantage at the half.

Binghamton built its lead to 11 early in the third before Maine responded with a 7-1 run to trim the deficit to five. 

The Bearcats again answered, this time with a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 53-39, with 1:27 left in the third.

With Binghamton's lead at 57-44 entering the fourth, Maine would begin its comeback. 

The Black Bears started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run when buckets from Smith and Blauenfeldt sandwiched a triple by Lala Woods. The sprint drew Maine to within six midway through the fourth.

A pair of buckets from Talon late in the quarter brought Maine all the way back to within a pair with 36-seconds left.

However, a triple from Binghamton with five seconds remaining put the game out of reach as the Bearcats captured the victory by a final of 62-57.

Maine returns home to host UMass Lowell on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-