BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Bracey Barker erupted for a career-high 26 points to go with nine rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots Saturday as the University of Maine women’s basketball team earned its third straight victory, a 69-57 decision over the University of Buffalo at Alumni Arena.

Maine improved to 3-3 heading into Friday’s home game against Indiana. Buffalo dipped to 1-4.

Barker, a Mount Desert Island High School product from Bar Harbor, made 9 of 12 shots from the field and 7 of 8 free-throw attempts while scoring in double figures for the third time this season.

“Her stat line’s unbelievable,” said UMaine coach Sharon Versyp. “She had a breakout game, which was huge for us.

“She scored underneath, scored outside, scored midrange, really just dominated,” she added.

Senior guard Missy Traversi added 13 points despite an eye injury she suffered when hit by a basketball during practice in the days leading up to the game, while sophomore guard Ashley Underwood of Benton added 10 points.

Starting senior point guard Kim Corbitt did not play due to an injured ankle suffered during practice Thursday.

“Missy had to play point guard the majority of the time and Margaret [Elderton] got in some as well,” Versyp said. “I felt that we handled things pretty well.”

UMaine shot 49 percent from the floor, including 56 percent (14-for-25) in the second half and converted 16 of 21 free throws (76 percent).

Heather Turner paced Buffalo with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Belinda Gibb added 13 points and Viorica Badinici scored 10.

Barker scored 10 points in the first half as Maine moved out to a 32-27 advantage. The Black Bears took control with an 8-0 run midway through the period that featured two baskets by Abby Schrader, the second of which capped off the run and gave the Black Bears a 14-7 advantage with 11:51 left in the half.

Buffalo rallied early in the second half, taking a 40-38 lead on a jumper by Badinici with 14:42 to play. Barker countered with a jumper before Brooke Meunier hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls a 43-40 edge.

Barker tied the game with a 3-pointer, setting off a 14-0 run that gave Maine the lead for good. Barker scored seven points during the run, while Underwood contributed the go-ahead jumper and a 3-pointer that pushed the Black Bears’ lead to 54-43 with 9:40 left.

“We had a 14-0 run in the second half which really made a big change for us,” Versyp said. “We went zone and that really helped us. We just kept rebounding, running and getting to the foul line.”

Buffalo mounted one more run, scoring the next eight points to draw within 54-51 on jumper by Gibb with 6:30 left.

But Traversi hit a jumper and a layup and Barker added two free throws to ignite an 11-0 Maine response that provided the Black Bears a 65-51 lead on a jumper by Barker with 3:16 remaining.

BLACK BEARS 69, BULLS 57

Maine (3-3) Buffalo (1-4)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Peterson 4 7 0 0 8 Badinici 4 10

Jay 1 1 0 0 2 Turner 7 11 3 17

Traversi 5 12 2 2 13 A. Bennett 2 10 0 0 4

Underwood 2 11 5 6 10 Meunier 3 12 8

Barker 9 12 7 8 26 S. Bennett 2 5

Hugstad-Vaa 0 0 1 2 1 Orzco Gollz 0 0

Whittier 0 0 0 2 0 Merlino 0 0 0

Elderton 1 3 1 1 3 Kucheran 0 0

Schrader 3 5 0 0 6 Gibb 4 9 13

Totals 25 51 16 21 69 22 53 14 57

Maine 32 69

Buffalo 27 57

3-pt. goals – Maine (3-11): Barker 1-1, Traversi 1-4, Underwood 1-6; Buffalo (5-10): Badinici 2-3, Meunier 2-3, S. Bennett 1-3, A. Bennett 0-1,