AUGUSTA – League newcomer Maryland Baltimore County plays a deliberate “Princeton offense” designed to lull opponents to sleep.

The University of Maine got caught up in the Retrievers’ plodding pace for a while Sunday, but was able to snap out of it early in the second half.

UMaine played stifling man-to-man defense throughout and unleashed its attacking offensive style after halftime, running away with a 61-35 America East women’s basketball victory in front of 1,732 fans at the Augusta Civic Center.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s Black Bears improved to 19-5, 14-0 in America East, clinching their second straight regular-season conference title with their 14th consecutive win. UMaine has now won 30 regular-season league games in a row.

“They’re a great program and they do a great job in every aspect, from the atmosphere to how they play. We aspire to be like them one day,” said UMBC coach Phil Stern.

UMaine’s relentless defense forced several of UMBC’s 26 turnovers and the Bears cashed in with 31 points off Retriever miscues. The 35 points were the fewest allowed since UMaine beat Chicago State in 1993.

The Bears also shot 46 percent from the field – 52 percent in the second half, including a 10-for-16 effort on 3-pointers.

“Their pressure was very good in the three-quarter court when they go to that little run-and-jump and they turned us over a couple of times to start the second half,” said UMBC coach Phil Stern. “They’re just very well-coached and very talented.”

Missy Traversi’s 15 points led a balanced UMaine offense. Heather Ernest posted 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Kim Corbitt provided 10 points and five assists. Augusta’s Julie Veilleux added seven points and four assists.

Maria Brown paced UMBC with 12 points. The Retrievers, who lead America East with 8.4 3-pointers on 40 percent accuracy in league games, went 2-for-9 from long range.

“We knew that we had to take away their 3-point shots,” Versyp said. “I think that this is the best defense our team has ever played when you’re really dissecting the 3-point scenario.”

UMaine led 22-17 at halftime, but turned up the intensity on defense and the aggressiveness at the offensive end while quickly turning the game into a blowout in a span of 2:38.

Two Ernest foul shots provided an inauspicious beginning to the Bears’ decisive 13-0 scoring run. Corbitt hit a 3-pointer off a UMBC turnover, then cashed in on another with a 13-footer from the lane 26 seconds later.

“Our whole defense in the second half set the tone and when [Corbitt] got the ball, we’d attack,” Versyp said.

After a timeout, Ernest scored off a lob from Corbitt, Monica Peterson hit a 16-footer in transition and Corbitt made a layup off a steal by Melissa Heon as the Bears made it 35-17 with 16:50 remaining.

“The second half we knew we just needed to come out and play our rhythm and hopefully force some more turnovers and get our game going,” said Veilleux, who along with Ashley Underwood enjoyed their “homecoming” in Augusta.

UMBC slowed the Bears’ surge with a baseline drive, but Veilleux nailed a 3-pointer and Traversi buried back-to-back 3’s as UMaine pushed the lead to 44-19 with 13:22 left.

“Kim and Missy, those were the key players to really get us going in the second half,” said Versyp, whose team had been a bit hesitant at times in the first half. “Then we started being confident shooting the ball.”

UMaine plays host to Northeastern Wednesday at 7 p.m.

BLACK BEARS 61, RETRIEVERS 35

UMBC (3-20) Maine (19-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Doughman 0 0 0 0 0 Heon 1 3 3

Rohde 2 5 1 2 6 Ernest 4 7 11

Brown 5 10 2 2 12 Corbitt 4 6 10

Goncharova 2 8 0 0 5 Veilleux 2 7

Powell 1 2 0 0 2 Schrader 0 1

Hughes 0 1 0 0 0 Traversi 6 15

Santos 1 2 2 2 4 Underwood 1 3

Pender 1 1 0 0 2 Hugstd-Vaa 0 0

Luttrell 0 1 0 0 0 Jay 0 0 2

Voss 2 4 0 0 4 Whittier 1 1 2

Gay 0 1 0 0

Barker 1 3 0 2

Quacknbsh 0 1 1

Peterson 2 4 4

Totals 14 34 5 6 35 Totals 22 48 12 61

Md. Baltimore County 17 35

Maine 22 61

3-pt. goals ? UMBC (2-9): Rhode 1-2, Goncharova 1-5, Brown 0-1, Luttrell 0-1; Maine (10-16): Traversi 3-4, Corbitt 2-2, Veilleux 2-2, Heon 1-3, Ernest 1-1, Underwood 1-2, Barker 0-2

Attendance: 1,732