Bears push Dutchwomen hard for win

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ORONO – There have been numerous upsets in the North Atlantic Conference in the past couple of weeks, but the trend did not continue Thursday night.

The University of Maine played a strong all-around game, receiving contributions from everyone on the roster, while posting a convincing 82-57 women’s basketball victory over NAC newcomer Hofstra at Alfond Arena.

A weeknight crowd of 2,508 witnessed the lopsided contest, which went pretty much as advertised, considering Maine beat the Flying Dutchwomen by 30 last month in New York.

Coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s Black Bears improved to 13-5 overall and pushed their NAC record to 6-2. Hofstra, which had a three-game win streak snapped, slipped to 9-11 and 3-8, respectively.

The hosts took the lead early, extended it, then maintained it. Despite the loss, Hofstra coach Leslie Schlegel doesn’t mind losing to Maine because of the way the Bears play.

“I really have a lot of respect for Maine because they play the game of basketball,” Schlegel said. “They’re not holding jerseys and they’re not cheap. They just play the game.”

The Bears, leading by 13 at halftime, ended the suspense with a 14-4 flurry to start the second half. Freshman point guard Cindy Blodgett, who scored two points in the first half, was the catalyst.

Blodgett scored six points, made three steals, and dished out four assists during the second-half binge. A Blodgett steal led to a Steph Guidi layup, then she hit Stacey Porrini for a backdoor layup to make it 44-27.

Trisha Ripton fed Blodgett for a hoop from the lane, but Hofstra sandwiched a Kate Gordon bucket and two Meg O’Brien foul shots around a 13-foot jumper by Guidi. Blodgett went into high gear, feeding Porrini for a fast-break layup, then making back-to-back steals and converting on each with a layup as Maine pushed its lead to 54-31 with 16:14 left.

“I was pleased with the defensive intensity coming out of the locker room at halftime,” Palombo said. “That’s important. We’re growing, but we’ve got a long way to go in terms of just continuing to improve.”

Guidi spearheaded the Maine effort with 16 points, while Porrini contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots. Blodgett checked in with 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and five steals.

Ripton played another well-rounded game, providing eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Catherine Gallant added eight points and seven rebounds, and Seana Dionne eight points and tough defense.

O’Brien led the way for the Flying Dutchwomen with a game-high 20 points and Melanie Moore tossed in 12. Diane Hobin handed out five assits.

Maine, which outrebounded Hofstra 43-31, did not go into the game overconfident.

“Coach makes a good point every game to not take any team lightly and I don’t think we do take any teams lightly, because we’re gonna get everybody’s best game,” Dionne said. “I think we have to come out and execute what we’re gonna do.”

Maine wasted no time taking the upper hand, pulling out to a 14-4 lead behind Porrini, Ripton and Guidi. Guidi broke a 4-4 tie with two free throws, then Ripton scored a fast-break layup and nailed a 3-pointer.

Porrini, who had five points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots in the first 4 1/2 minutes, added a conventional three-point play to give the Bears a 10-point edge less than four minutes into the game.

O’Brien helped keep the Dutchwomen close, hitting three long jumpers while scoring six of Hofstra’s next eight points. The visitors cut the deficit to 22-14, but a Dionne 3-pointer and Blodgett’s 18-footer pushed the lead back to 13 points with 8:22 left before intermission.

Bear tracks: Black Bear fans may notice a familiar face on the bench lately. Former Houlton High School standout Liz Nelson has joined the Maine team as a walk-on.

Nelson, an agile 5-foot-10 forward, was a two-time NEWS All-Maine selection for Coach John Donato’s Shiretowners in 1992 and ’93. She has transferred to UMaine after spending a year at New Hampshire College.

Nelson won’t be eligible until the second semester next season, but has been practicing since the start of classes this month. Palombo is excited to have her on the squad.

“She chose to walk on the team, and we’re thrilled. She’s a great person,” said Palombo, who explained Nelson will have 2 1/2 seasons of eligibility starting next January.

“She’s very athletic and is really a hustler and a worker,” Palombo said. “She really wants to go after the next level. She’s been great.”

Bears 82, Dutchwomen 57

Hofstra Maine

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

Mulqueen 1 1 0 0 3 Grealy 0 3 0 0 0

Fitzpatrick 0 1 0 0 0 Stubbs 1 1 0 0 2

Hobin 2 9 2 3 6 Blodgett 6 13 2 5 14

O’Brien 8 17 4 4 20 Gallant 2 4 5 8 9

Rowell 1 1 0 0 2 Carver 2 2 0 0 4

Moore 5 14 2 2 12 Rustad 1 4 0 0 2

Clancy 0 0 4 6 4 Porrini 6 9 3 3 15

Gordon 4 14 0 0 8 Dionne 2 3 2 3 8

Botts 1 2 0 0 2 Sullivan 2 5 0 2 4

Guidi 6 9 4 4 16

Ripton 3 8 0 0 8

Totals 22 59 12 15 57 Totals 31 61 16 25 82

Hofstra 27 57

Maine 40 82

3-pt. goals: Hofstra (1-9): Mulqueen 1-1, Fitzpatrick 0-1, Hobin 0-4, O’Brien 0-2, Moore 0-1; Maine (4-11): Blodgett 0-3, Rustad 0-1, Dionne 2-2, Ripton 2-5