ALBANY, N.Y. – Kim Corbitt and Missy Traversi each made two free throws in the final 23 seconds Thursday night, helping the University of Maine hold on for a 59-53 America East women’s basketball victory over Albany at the Recreation and Convocation Center.

The Black Bears connected on 20 of 22 foul shots (91 percent), including a perfect 14-for-14 effort in the second half, to win their second straight game.

UMaine improves to 14-9 overall and upped its conference record to 7-5 heading into Saturday’s game at Vermont. The Bears moved into a three-way tie for third place with New Hampshire and Boston University.

Thursday night’s victory came without the services of sophomore guard Melissa Heon, who injured her back placing her bag on the bus on Wednesday and later suffered back spasms.

UMaine shot only 33 percent from the field (18-for-54), but emerged with a 39-32 rebounding advantage and took advantage of its free-throw opportunities.

“It’s tough to play here,” Versyp said of the Great Danes’ facility. “They played some great defense and we shot very poorly. We never got in sync offensively.”

Heather Ernest of Temple led UMaine’s balanced offense with 13 points, including a 9-for-10 effort from the foul line. She also grabbed 11 rebounds and contributed four assists and four steals.

Julie Veilleux of Augusta netted 11 points, freshman Monica Peterson provided 10 poitns and seven rebounds, and Traversi chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.

Corbitt added seven points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in returning to her hometown.

Jess McGinlay led Albany with a game-high 16 points and Becky Ayers added 11.

The Bears, who blew out Albany 88-58 on Jan. 12 in Orono, never led by more than seven points. UMaine took the lead for good with a 13-2 second-half scoring run.

Eva Moldre got the spurt started with a short jumper, then Traversi followed with a 3-pointer to give the Bears a 45-44 edge with 10:17 to play. Moldre followed with a layup, then Corbitt and Veilleux sandwiched jumpers 49 seconds apart around a Danielle Hutcheson bucket to push the advantage to 51-46.

Two Peterson foul shots made it a seven-point game with 4:07 to play.

The Danes crept back within two on two Marie Connors foul shots with 1:28 left, but UMaine made its last four free throws count.

“It was nip-and-tuck but it came down to free throws and our kids made their shots,” Versyp said.

BLACK BEARS 59, GREAT DANES 53

Maine (14-9) Albany (4-18)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Ernest 2 6 9 10 13 Caffell 0 5 0

Veilleux 4 11 2 2 11 Hutcheson 1 4

Moldre 3 4 0 0 6 Ayers 5 12 11

Traversi 2 9 4 4 9 Hemlock 3 9 9

Corbitt 2 8 3 4 7 McGinlay 6 16

Guerrette 1 6 0 0 3 Johnson 0 0 0

Jay 0 0 0 0 0 Gary 0 0 2 2

Geraghty 0 0 0 0 0 Sweetland 1 3

Cruz 0 0 0 0 0 Jones 0 1 0 0

Peterson 4 10 2 2 10 Ali 2 3 4

Connors 0 4 4 4

Totals 18 54 20 22 59 18 49 11 16 53

Maine 26 59

Albany 26 53

3-pt. goals: Maine (3-15): Veilleux 1-4, Ernest 0-1, Traversi 1-5, Corbitt 0-1, Guerrette 1-4; Albany (5-13): Ayers 1-3, McGinlay 4-7, Sweetland 1-1, Connors 0-2.

Attendance: 604