NEWARK, N.J. -- Adrianna Smith recorded her 14th double-double of the season in Maine's 63-42 loss at NJIT on Saturday afternoon. The decision snapped Maine's four-game win streak as the Black Bears slip back to 14-12 and 9-4 in America East play. The victory moves NJIT to 16-10, 7-6 in league play.

Smith finished the outing with 24 points and 15 rebounds for her 52nd career double-double and fifth in as many games. Lala Woods added eight points and five rebounds for the Black Bears. 

Maine was 15-of-65 from the floor, 2-for-21 from three-point range. The Black Bears were able to win the turnover battle for 10th consecutive game as they posted their eighth single-digit turnover total (7) performance of the season.

Maine controlled play early as Smith's three-pointer began the scoring with the Black Bears running out to a 5-0 lead. 

With 2:45 left in the first quarter, Asta Blauenfeldt's triple gave Maine its largest lead of the afternoon, 10-4.

Maine's lead would stand at 12-9 after one quarter.

NJIT, who closed the first quarter with a triple, would hit another to start the second quarter scoring as the 6-0 run tied the game.

Maine rebuilt a four point lead thanks to six-straight points from Smith before a 5-0 run from NJIT gave the Highlanders their first lead of the game with 5:38 left in the first half. 

The Highlanders entered the half with a 27-22 advantage.

Two more buckets from Smith early in the third trimmed the deficit down to four but NJIT responded, breaking out a 13-3 run to extend its lead to 14 with 3:44 left in the third.

Maine was only able to claw back to within 13 as NJIT outscored the Black Bears 15-9 in the fourth quarter to seal the win by a final of 63-42. 

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they host New Hampshire in the Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-