Balanced Black Bears squelch Dragons’ fire

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ORONO – Basketball coaches spend a lot of time trying to find the right combination of players to put on the floor.

University of Maine coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie continues to find ways to get all 11 of her players involved in the team’s success.

The Black Bears showed Drexel here Friday night that the whole is, indeed, equal to the sum of its parts. Maine placed five players in double figures and pestered the Dragons with a well-rounded defensive effort while rolling to an 87-63 North Atlantic Conference victory in front of 3,356 fans at Alfond Arena.

Freshman Cindy Blodgett connected for a game-high 18 points on 8-for-13 floor shooting to lead the offensive charge for Maine, which extended its winning streak to six games while improving to 9-3 overall, 2-0 in NAC action.

Coach Kristin Foley’s Drexel squad slipped to 6-6 and 1-2, respectively.

Maine blitzed the Dragons with frequent bursts of defensive intensity, which were instrumental in initiating the Bears’ transition attack. They were able to keep up the defensive pressure by going to the bench early and often.

“I was very pleased with the intensity most of the game,” Palombo said. “I thought intensity came off the bench. We had people to pick up people when they weren’t intense on the court. I liked how we pushed the ball up the floor and attacked them.”

It took the Bears all of 4 1/2 minutes to tighten up their defense and begin pulling away from the Dragons. With Drexel holding a 12-11 lead and 15:30 still left in the half, Stacey Porrini scored from underneath to jump-start a crowd-pleasing 18-2 run over the next seven minutes.

Stacia Rustad and Catherine Gallant came off the bench to help get the Bears clicking, while Blodgett scored Maine’s next seven points on a 15-footer from the baseline, a 3-pointer and an eight-footer from the lane.

Jen Webster slowed the charge for the Dragons with a steal and layup at the 12:04 mark. However, Gallant connected twice from inside the paint, Steph Guidi sank two free throws and Rustad buried a 3-pointer to make it 29-14 with 8:18 to play in the half.

“Intensity-wise, I think they (the substitutes) create the same pressure that the starters do,” Foley said. “That’s the thing that keeps them going. When you can make subs and your defensive intensity doesn’t drop, you’re gonna win some games. They dive for loose balls and hustle everywhere.”

The Bears stymied Drexel with a combination of defensive looks, including a 3-2 zone, a matchup zone, man-to-man, and a 2-2-1 full-court press. The visitors committed 11 turnovers in the half, and their offense was limited to put-backs and “garbage” baskets in the last eight minutes of the half en route to a 43-24 lead at intermission.

Gallant and Trisha Ripton scored 13 points each for the Bears, while Steph Guidi netted 11 and Stacey Porrini 10. Rustad and Sandi Carver added eight points each. Gallant grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Ripton dished out five assists and Blodgett four.

Drexel made a comeback threat early in the second half, but Guidi scored five points to fuel an 11-0 flurry during a two-minute span that made it 62-35 with 12:29 remaining and put the game out of reach.

The team’s chemistry continues to improve and morale appears to be high.

“We have a very deep bench and I think that helps us because if there’s a lack in one area, somebody can come in and pick them up,” Guidi. “That makes the team better team-wise, more as on.”

Carver, a freshman from Beals, continues to improve and give Maine quality minutes coming off the bench. She provides the Bears with an athletic swing player who is aggressive on defense.

“I do get impatient sometimes waiting on the bench, but I know my time will come,” Carver said. “I’m just working and hoping I’m going to get in. I’m just sitting there on the bench trying to keep myself pumped up so that when I go in I can give everything I’ve got.”

Rita Sullivan and Seana Dionne also turned in solid performances for Maine.

Jen MacNeill led the way for Drexel with 17 points, while Leslie Reiner contributed 15 and Tiffany Davis had 12. Jen Webster handed out six assists. Maine outrebounded Drexel 39-35.

Black Bears 87, Dragons 63

Drexel Maine women

Name G AG F AF TP Name G AG F AF TP

Rosen 0 3 0 0 0 Grealy 0 0 0 0 0

Webster 3 9 0 0 6 Stubbs 0 1 0 0 0

Reiner 6 8 3 5 15 Blodgett 8 13 0 0 18

O’Brien 4 6 0 1 9 Gallant 5 8 3 3 13

MacNeill 6 13 5 6 17 Carver 3 6 2 2 8

Vebrosky 2 5 0 0 4 Rustad 3 8 1 2 8

Bielli 0 2 0 0 0 Porrini 4 9 2 2 10

Rice 0 2 0 0 0 Dionne 0 0 0 0 0

Davis 6 14 0 2 12 Ripton 3 8 6 8 13

Sullivan 2 4 2 2 6

Guidi 4 7 3 3 11

Totals 27 62 8 14 63 Totals 32 64 19 22 87

Drexel 24 63

Maine 43 87

3-pt. goals: Drexel (1-3): Webster 0-1, Reiner 0-1, O’Brien; Maine (4-10): Blodgett 2-5, Rustad 1-3, Ripton 1-2