AKRON, Ohio – Three University of Maine veterans stepped up with big games to carry the Black Bears to a 58-51 women’s basketball victory over the University of Akron Zips Friday night.

Juniors Julie Veilleux, Heather Ernest and Melissa Heon combined for 45 of Maine’s 58 points and came up with big baskets each time the Zips attempted to close the gap.

“Those three really sustained what we were about tonight,” Maine coach Sharon Versyp said. “Melissa and Julie played great, both shooting and rebounding. Julie crashed the boards and showed great shot selection.”

Veilleux paced the 2-2 Bears with 16 points and connected on 7 of 12 shots from the field. Ernest chipped in with 15 points and led the Bears in rebounding with nine. Heon added 14 points and notched a team-high four assists.

It was the first game of the season for Ernest, who had served a three-game suspension for secondary NCAA rule violations.

Versyp said Ernest was rusty, but came up with some big plays for the Bears.

“She had five turnovers in the post, but when you’re out as long as she was that’s going to happen,” Versyp said. “She did some really good things like taking three charges, so her defense was key as well.

“Overall, I’m pleased with how Heather did considering the circumstances,” Versyp added.

Maine started strong by taking a 33-22 lead at the half behind 11 points from Ernest and 11 from Veilleux. They upped it to as much as 16 in the second half when Missy Traversi opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and Ernest came back with a basket off an offensive rebound.

The Zips answered by grinding down the Maine lead to 47-43 with 7:27 left.

“We struggled from the 16 to the 11-minute mark [in each half],” Versyp said. “They did a nice job and made a nice run at us.”

Maine’s veterans answered the Akron run as Veilleux and Ernest hit back-to-back jumpers and Ernest added a layup to up the Maine lead to 53-44 with 5:10 left.

The Zips managed to cut the margin back down to five but a layup by Monica Peterson with 1:50 left and two free throws by Heon with 1:27 remaining sealed the victory for the Black Bears.

Akron, now 1-5, was led by Jen Arnold’s 12 points and Celina Dopoulos’ 10.

Maine outrebounded Akron 38-25. The Black Bears also enjoyed a solid shooting performance from the floor, hitting 45.8 percent (22 of 48).

BLACK BEARS 58, ZIPS 51

Maine (2-2) Akron (1-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Heon 4 7 6 8 14 Hemmelgarn 1 7 3

Traversi 2 6 1 2 7 Arnold 5 9 12

Ernest 7 11 1 1 15 Johnson 3 10 8

Jay 0 2 0 0 0 Booms 0 1 0 0

Veilleux 7 12 1 3 16 Overton 2 3 6

Hickman 0 0 0 0 0 Dopoulos 4 10

Corbitt 0 2 1 2 1 Caranta 0 2 0

Quackenbush 0 0 0 0 0 Harris 2 9 6

Peterson 2 3 1 3 5 Bell 3 3 6

Schrader 0 3 0 0 0

Totals 22 48 11 19 58 20 53 51

Maine 33 58

Akron 22 51

3-pt. goals: Maine (3-11): Heon 0-3, Traversi 2-4, Ernest 0-1, Veilleux 1-2, Corbitt 0-1; Akron (8-20): Hemmelgarn 1-3, Arnold 2-5, Johnson 1-4, Dopoulos 2-4, Harris 2-4

Attendance: 163