ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team, which trailed by 11 in the first half, fought back behind a 29 point effort from Adrianna Smith to lead the Black Bears to a 64-56 win over Bryant on Saturday afternoon.

With her scoring effort, Smith moved past Sigi Koizar and into ninth on Maine's all-time scoring list with 1,679 career points.

Smith, who registered 19 of her 29 points in the first half, posted her third-consecutive double-double with 11 rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks. Smith's 29 point effort stretches her double-digit scoring effort to 18 in a row. Asta Blauenfeldt added 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Sarah Talon chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Maine, which shot 19-of-56 from the floor, did its offensive damage from the free throw line where they finished the game 24-of-31 from the charity stripe. The 24 made free throws were the most by the Black Bears since March 10, 2019 while the 31 attempts were its most since March 5, 2017 at New Hampshire.

The Black Bears won the turnover battle for the eighth straight game as it posted single digit turnovers (9) for the third consecutive outing. 

Maine found itself down by 11 early as Bryant opened the game 10-of-16 (62.5) in the first quarter. The Bulldogs led by eight after one and opened the second quarter with a triple to take their largest lead of the afternoon, 26-15, with 8:20 left in the half.

The Black Bears battled back with a 9-3 run to trim the lead to five. 

Bryant was able to grow the lead back to seven before Maine closed the half on a 7-0 run, keeping Bryant scoreless over the final 2:47 of the half, with all seven points coming from Smith including a triple to tie it. 

The game would enter the break tied at 31-31.

The Bulldogs took a three point lead early in the third before a 4-0 run from Maine answered with Blauenfeldt's jumper late in the shot clock giving Maine its first advantage since leading 2-0. 

The Black Bears would never trail again.

Leading by three, Talon snatched a rebound and raced down court or a layup while drawing the foul. Her made free throw put the Black Bears on top, 42-36, with 2:51 left in the third. 

Maine's lead would stand at five, 45-40, entering the final quarter.

Bryant closed the gap to three before Maine responded with a short 4-0 run on two buckets from Talon. The three point deficit would be as close as Bryant would get the remainder of the way as Smith's two free throws gave the hosts their largest lead of the game, 62-54, with less than a minute to play.

Maine would cruise the rest of the way to secure their eighth league win of the season, 64-56.

The Black Bears return to action on Thursday, Feb. 12 when they travel to meet UMBC at 6:30 p.m.

-UMaine-