UMaine topples Bradley Ernest, Schrader dominate paint

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PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Maine opened the second half with an 11-0 scoring spurt Sunday afternoon, building a 17-point advantage on its way to an 80-70 women’s basketball victory over Bradley at Robertson Field House.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s Black Bears unleashed a balanced offensive attack, placing four players in double figures, while improving to 4-3 with their second straight win.

UMaine attacked the basket successfully, outscoring the Braves (4-4) in the paint by a commanding 64-16 margin. The Bears, who were shooting 37 percent as a team going into the contest, shot a season-best 54 percent from the floor.

Junior forward Heather Ernest of Temple paced UMaine with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman forward Abby Schrader connected for 14 points and grabbed eight boards. Sophomore point guard Kim Corbitt racked up 14 points, seven assists and four steals and junior guard Melissa Heon provided 14 points, four assists and three steals.

Monica Peterson chipped in with eight points for the Bears, who were outscored 21-11 from the foul line. The 80 points were the most scored by UMaine this season.

The Bears also outrebounded the Braves 43-36.

UMaine led 45-39 at intermission, but quickly extended the lead. Four different players scored during the key 11-0 run.

Schrader got things rolling with a 15-foot turnaround shot, then Heon followed with two free throws. Julie Veilleux (7 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) hit a short jumper, Corbitt drove in for a layup and Heon converted a conventional three-point play off a driving move as the Bears made it 56-39 with 17:41 remaining.

Bradley responded with 13 unanswered points as Sara Bailey connected for six points and Genny Mueller scored five.

The hosts crept within 56-52 on a Bailey foul shot with 13:16 to play, but Ernest hit a short jumper, Heon drove in for a layup and Ernest nailed a 3-pointer to restore the Bears’ advantage to 10 with 12:10 left.

Mueller poured in a game-high 24 points to lead the Braves, while Bailey contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Mandy Sides 14 points. Bradley shot only 31 percent from the floor, but made nine 3-pointers and converted 21 of 29 free throws.

UMaine had surged late in the first half, turning a tie game into a 43-35 lead with 2:43 left before intermission. Corbitt scored twice on penetration moves to spark an 11-3 flurry.

BLACK BEARS 80, BRAVES 70

Maine (4-3) 80 Bradley (4-4) 70

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Ernest 7 13 1 2 15 Marcellus 0 2

Veilleux 3 6 0 0 7 Sidees 5 10 14

Jay 1 1 0 0 2 Chelleen 1 2 2

Heon 5 12 4 4 14 Hackman 1 6 0 3

Corbitt 6 9 2 3 14 Bailey 4 17 10 14

Traversi 1 3 2 2 4 Liberatore 0 2

Geraghty 0 2 0 0 0 Mueller 7 17 24

Gay 1 1 0 0 2 Lugge 0 1 2 2

Peterson 4 7 0 0 8 Love 0 0 0

Schrader 6 9 2 4 14 Waterman 1 3

Williams 1 4 4

Totals 34 63 11 15 80 Totals 20 64 21 29 70

Maine 45 80

Bradley 39 70

3-pt. goals ? Maine (1-9): Veilleux 1-2, Ernest 0-2, Heon 0-3, Geraghty 0-2; Bradley: (9-30): Mueller 6-13, Sides 1-1, Hackman 1-6, Bailey 1-8, Lugge 0-1, Waterman 0-1

Attendance: 823