BURLINGTON, Vt. – Libby Smith hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points during a 13-2 scoring spurt late in the first half that sparked Vermont to a 65-44 America East women’s basketball victory over Maine Saturday afternoon at Patrick Gym.

The league-leading Catamounts hit eight of 14 3-pointers in the contest and shot 50 percent overall in the second half while completing the season sweep of the Black Bears.

UMaine, which had won three in a row, slipped to 14-10 overall, 7-6 in conference play. Vermont improved to 16-7 (10-2) with its eighth straight win.

The Bears received a solid game from sophomore forward Heather Ernest of Temple, who led the way with 15 points and five rebounds. Melissa Heon, who had sat out Thursday’s game at Albany with back spasms, returned to score 11 points Saturday.

Monica Peterson contributed six points and 11 rebounds, but UMaine shot only 33 percent from the field in the game. The Bears’ guards were a combined 7-for-28 and the team was 1-for-10 from 3-point range.

Vermont placed four players in double figures, led by Dawn Cressman (13 points, 7 rebounds) and Aaron Yantzi (13 points, 6 rebounds). Libby Smith (6 assists) and Katie McNamara chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds each.

The Catamounts outrebounded the Bears 37-34.

Vermont was without first-team all-conference pick Morgan Hall, who is dealing with a knee injury.

The Bears had hung with the Catamounts most of the first half, which featured five lead changes and four ties. UMaine tied it up 17-17 with a layup at 3:59 of the half, but Vermont got hot on the offensive end.

Smith kicked off the 13-2 spurt with a 3-pointer, then Cressman made a layup. Ernest countered for the Bears with a close-range basket, but Jen MacAulay hit a 3-pointer, then Smith hit a pair of jumpers to extend the lead to 30-19 at the break.

Vermont led by as many as 20 points in the second half and UMaine never got closer than nine at 38-29 with 15:15 remaining.

CATAMOUNTS 65, BLACK BEARS 44

Maine (14-10) Vermont (16-7)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Heon 5 10 0 0 11 MacAulay 1 7 3

Traversi 1 7 3 4 5 Cressman 5 10 0 0 13

Moldre 1 1 0 0 2 Smith 4 8 10

Ernest 7 13 2 4 16 Yantzi 4 12 13

Veilleux 0 7 0 0 0 McNamara 5 10

Guerrette 0 2 0 0 0 Sabourin 0 0

Jay 0 1 0 0 0 Vine 0 0 0 0

Corbitt 1 3 2 2 4 Boardman 4 9

Geraghty 0 0 0 0 0 Spinka 2 4 7

Cruz 0 1 0 0 0

Peterson 3 10 0 0 6

Totals 18 55 7 10 44 Totals 25 55 65

Maine 19 44

Vermont 30 65

3-pt. goals ? Maine (1-10): Heon 1-3, Traversi 0-4, Veilleux 0-1, Guerrette 0-2; Vermont (8-14): MacAulay 1-2, Cressman 3-5, Smith 2-3, Boardman 1-2, Spinka 1-2

Attendance: 2,220