Blodgett spearheads Bears’ win> UMaine earns final berth by sinking Pirates in Miami tourney opener

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Cindy Blodgett scored eight points to highlight a crucial, 15-2 second-half run Saturday night, spearheading the University of Maine to a 92-70 women’s basketball victory over East Carolina in the first round of the Miami Holiday Classic.

The Black Bears took a 6-1 record and a four-game winning streak into Sunday’s 8 p.m. tournament championship game against host Miami. The Hurricanes belted Delaware State 102-65 in Saturday’s other game.

Blodgett poured in a game-high 30 points to pace Maine, which placed four players in double figures. Blodgett, who scored at least 30 points for the fifth time this season, handed out a career-high nine assists and grabbed five rebounds.

Klara Danes picked up the slack when Jamie Cassidy encountered foul trouble. The junior forward contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while Cassidy, who played only 18 minutes, finished with 13 points.

Sandi Carver contributed 12 points and three steals, while Amy Vachon handed out eight assists.

Maine shot 55 percent from the floor and outrebounded East Carolina 40-29.

The Bears made their move four minutes into the second half. Blodgett got things rolling with two foul shots, Danes hit twice from the line, and Andrea Clark made a free throw as Maine took a 53-40 lead.

Blodgett scored on a layup before Melanie Gillem answered for ECU with a baseline drive. Katie Clark’s layup, a 10-foot runner by Blodgett, and two Blodgett free throws put the game out of reach at 61-42.

Shay Hayes led East Carolina with 16 points, Tricia Peckham tossed in 14, and Cox added 11.

The Bears opened up a 12-2 lead in the first four minutes with Cassidy providing five points, including three from the foul line.

The Pirates worked their way back into contention midway through the first half. East Carolina rattled off a 17-2 flurry behind Peckham, who nailed back-to-back 3-pointers amidst the run.

The Pirates actually took the lead on a driving layup by Jen Cox with 8:27 left in the half. Danes got loose for eight points in the last 5:35, helping the Bears re-establish a 38-32 lead by intermission.

Black Bears 92, Pirates 70

East Carolina (3-5) Maine (6-1)

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

Melvin 0 3 2 2 2 Carver 3 5 5 6 12

Hayes 6 9 4 5 16 Danes 7 13 3 3 17

Jaynes 1 7 3 5 5 Cassidy 5 6 3 6 13

Horne 2 11 2 2 6 Blodgett 11 20 8 8 30

Mortez 0 1 0 0 0 McCormick 1 1 0 0 2

Peckham 3 7 5 6 14 A. Clark 2 2 1 2 5

Cox 4 5 3 6 11 Vachon 2 6 0 0 5

Shinn 1 1 2 4 4 Tinklova 1 1 2 3 4

Gillem 3 6 0 0 7 K. Clark 1 3 2 2 4

Guthrie 1 2 3 6 5 Lopez 0 1 0 0 0

Brown 0 1 0 0 0 Macream 0 2 0 0 0

Totals 21 53 24 36 70 Totals 33 60 24 30 92

East Carolina 32 38 70

Maine 38 54 92

3-pt. goals: East Carolina (4-16): Peckham 3-5, Gillem 1-3, Horne 0-6, Mortez 0-1, Guthrie 0-1; Maine (2-10): Vachon 1-3, Carver 1-1, Blodgett 0-5, Lopez 0-1

Attendance:

Preliminary: