University of Maine
1-0,0-0America East
Siena College
1-1,0-0Metro
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siena | 12 | 14 | 16 | 26 | 68 |
| Maine | 19 | 13 | 20 | 18 | 70 |
11/5/2026 9:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lizzy Gruber, Maddie Fitzpatrick register double-doubles in victory
ORONO, Maine -- Olivia Alvarez's bucket with 2.7 seconds remaining helped lift the University of Maine women's basketball team to a 70-68 victory over Siena in its season opener Thursday evening at Skip Chappelle Court in the America East-Metro Challenge.
Lizzy Gruber led the Black Bears with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Maddie Fitzpatrick added 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Lala Woods chipped in 13 points, and Alvarez finished with eight, all in the fourth quarter.
For Gruber and Fitzpatrick, the scoring and rebounding totals for each set new career-highs while each registered their first career double-doubles.
Maine shot 45.3 percent from the floor and held a 43-33 advantage on the boards. The Black Bears connected on eight three-pointers, including two each from Woods, Alvarez and Abby Price.
Maine built a 19-12 lead after one quarter and took a 32-26 advantage into halftime. The Black Bears extended their lead to as many as 15 in the third before entering the fourth ahead, 52-42.
Siena rallied with 26 fourth-quarter points, taking its first lead of the second half, 59-58, with 5:28 remaining. Woods answered with a three-pointer to put Maine back in front, and a later Alvarez triple and Gruber layup gave the Black Bears a 66-61 edge.
The Saints responded with consecutive threes, the second from Nicole Melious putting Siena ahead 67-66 with 1:55 to play. Fitzpatrick's layup reclaimed the lead for Maine before Siena tied the game at 68 on a free throw with 50-seconds left.
After a Siena turnover with 16 seconds remaining, Alvarez floated in the eventual game-winner. A last second half court shot from the Saints fells short as Maine moved to 1-0 on the season.
Maine returns to action when it travels to meet Merrimack on Sunday, Nov. 8.
-UMaine-
