HANOVER, N.H. – Missed layups and free throws plagued the University of Maine women’s basketball team as Dartmouth downed the Black Bears 71-65 in a mutual season-opener Friday night at Leede Arena.

Dartmouth goes to 1-0 while Maine falls to 0-1.

Maine was without 6-foot-1 junior forward Heather Ernest, a first-team All-America East player who is serving a suspension for violation of secondary NCAA rules.

“Of course [we missed her] but she couldn’t play so I’m not going to even talk about her, period,” Maine head coach Sharon Versyp said.

The Black Bears shot 46.7 percent from the free-throw line and 39.1 percent from the floor. Maine missed two layups and two free throws in the final minute in an attempt to rally.

Meanwhile, Dartmouth made all five of its FT attempts in the last minute.

“We missed 14 layups and we were seven of 15 from the line and you can’t expect to win … it’s inexcusable,” Versyp said. “[Dartmouth is] one of the best free-throw shooting teams in country and we put them at the line 24 times, they made 20.”

The Big Green had a 66-62 lead when Maine’s Kim Corbitt (nine points, five steals) missed two free throws with 29 seconds left. Meanwhile, Dartmouth’s Angela Soriaga put in two free throws.

Missy Traversi hit a 3-pointer for Maine with 15 seconds left to make it 68-65, but she missed a layup after a timeout and then sent Soriaga to the line. She made two free throws to seal it.

Although 6-1 forward Katharine Hanks, finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Versyp said it was Dartmouth’s two freshman guards who hurt Maine the most.

Jean Cullen and Soriaga shot a combined 12-for-22, including 6-for-12 from 3-point range. Soriana hit all five of her free-throw attempts while Cullen went 3-for-4.

“They shot the lights out,” Versyp said.

But Versyp was pleased with the defensive effort from 6-3 freshman forward Abby Schrader, who guarded Hanks for much of the game.

“She’s a great player but Abby shut her down for a while,” Versyp said. “… I’m very proud of her.”

Schrader also recorded a double-double in her first collegiate game, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Senior Ellen Geraghty led Maine with 17 points. She missed most of last season with a back injury.

“She was just a warrior,” Versyp said. “She was unbelievable.”

Julie Veilleux had a team-high 11 rebounds to power Maine to a 45-39 edge on the boards.

Melissa Heon also provided Maine with some defense, tallying six steals to go with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Dartmouth had a 37-32 halftime lead. Geraghty gave Maine its only lead when she put in a layup 5:42 into the first half to make it 12-10. Soriaga nailed a 3-pointer to take the lead for good.

BIG GREEN 71, BLACK BEARS 65

Maine women (0-1) Dartmouth (1-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Heon 4 9 3 5 11 Cullen 7 12 3 21

Jay 0 0 0 0 0 Soriaga 5 10 5 17

Corbitt 4 7 1 4 9 Skelly 0 7 1

Veilleux 2 13 2 2 6 Librizzi 1 3

Schrader 7 12 0 2 14 Hanks 7 16 20

Traversi 2 7 0 0 6 Frett 0 0 0

Geraghty 7 14 1 2 17 O’Donnell 0 0

Gay 0 0 0 0 0 Lewis 0 3 2 2

Quackenbush 1 4 0 0 2 Yasaitis 2 7

Peterson 0 3 0 0 0 Downs 0 1 0

Perry 0 0 0 0

Totals 27 69 7 15 65 22 56 20 24 71

3-pt. goals: Maine (4-16): Traversi 2-4, Geraghty 2-6, Heon 0-3, Veilleux 0-3; Dartmouth (7-16): Cullen 4-6, Soriaga 2-6, Librizzi 1-1, Downs 0-1, Skelly 0-2

Attendance: 625

Halftime: Dartmouth 37-32