Lady Griz maul Bears by 31 points Slow start dooms UMaine

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MISSOULA, Mont. – The University of Maine women’s basketball team took almost a week off during the Christmas holidays.

The Black Bears, who last played on Dec. 18, had trouble getting back into the swing of things Tuesday night.

UMaine committed 11 turnovers and afforded Montana 13 free throws as the Grizzlies built a 22-point halftime lead on their way to a lopsided 83-52 victory in the opening round of the Lady Griz Holiday Classic at Dahlberg Arena.

Montana (5-4) shot well early and outrebounded the mistake-prone Bears while improving to 5-4. The hosts take on undefeated Florida State (12-0), a winner over Louisville in Tuesday’s opener, in tonight’s 9 p.m. tourney title game.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s 4-5 Black Bears face Louisville (8-4) in the 7 p.m. consolation contest.

“We just didn’t get it done, bottom line,” Versyp said. “Montana’s awesome.”

Versyp was disappointed in her team’s performance, especially with her starters. That group combined for only 20 points and 19 rebounds.

“We just got kicked,” Versyp told WZON radio after the game. “Our first five players did absolutely nothing for us.”

UMaine finished the game with 17 turnovers, several of which were converted into Montana points.

Johanna Closson led Montana with 17 points and nine rebounds while Hollie Tyler provided 16 points and nine rebounds. The hosts shot 40 percent from the field, connected on 23 of 27 free throws, and outrebounded the Bears by a commanding 47-28 margin.

Katie Edwards tossed in 14 points for the Lady Griz, who committed only eight turnovers and came up with 11 steals.

Sophomore Ashley Underwood of Benton spearheaded the offensive effort for UMaine. She tossed in a career-high 20 points on the strength of four 3-pointers.

“Our bench came in, played hard, really played with pride, really got after it,” Versyp said. “I’m really happy with Ashley Underwood. We finally got her back on track.”

Abby Schrader contributed seven points and 10 rebounds for the Bears. Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa added seven points.

With the game tied 10-10 seven minutes into the first half, the Grizzlies embarked on a decisive scoring surge. Montana outscored UMaine 27-3 during the next 10 minutes while taking complete control.

The Bears could manage only a 3-pointer by Bracey Barker at the 11:30 mark in that drought, during which they suffered through 1-for-8 floor shooting and committed seven turnovers.

Underwood’s 3-pointer broke the funk with 2:00 left in the half, but by that time the Bears trailed by 21.

“That first half their defense was great and we were just scared to death,” Versyp said. “If you have fear, you’re not going to play very well.”

GRIZZLIES 83, BLACK BEARS 52

Maine (4-5) Montana (5-4)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Barker 1 4 0 0 3 Keller 3 4 9

Peterson 3 8 0 0 6 McLeod 1 4 5

Schrader 2 4 3 6 7 Tyler 5 10 16

Traversi 0 3 0 0 0 Monaco 1 2 2

Corbitt 2 4 0 0 4 Edwards 6 11 14

Underwood 7 14 2 2 20 Closson 5 9 17

Hugstad-Vaa 3 3 1 2 7 Cote 0 5 0

Jay 0 0 0 0 0 Schmitz 0 1 2 2

Whittier 0 1 0 0 0 Conway 1 5 4

Elderton 1 5 2 2 5 Gale 2 5 4

Pullen 0 3 0 2 0 Brooks 0 2 2

Baird 3 9 2 8

Totals 19 49 8 14 52 Totals 27 67 23 27 83

Maine 22 52

Montana 44 83

3-pt. goals – Maine (6-16): Underwood 4-9, Barker 1-2, Elderton 1-3, Traversi 0-2; Montana (6-13): Keller 3-3, Edwards 2-4, Closson 1-1, Tyler 0-1, Cote 0-1, Schmitz 0-1, Conway 0-2

Attendance: 3,330

Albion 78, Husson 54

At Phoenix, Jamie Fornetti and Emi Guimond scored 11 points each as the Britons cruised past the Eagles in the Grand Canyon Classic.

Albion College (Ill.), which limited Husson to 11 first-half points, shot 51 percent from the floor and outrebounded Husson 38-31 in the contest.

Holly Gracie went 5-for-11 from 3-point range on her way to a game-high 23 points. Carmen Ballard and Michelle Murray each had nine points on three 3-pointers.

Albion (10-1) 78

Fornetti 5-0-11, Garvey 2-0-5, Matthew 1-0-2, Glynn 2-0-6, Guimond 3-5-11, Thompson 0-8-8, Babcock 3-1-8, Till 2-1-5, Jenema 0-1-1, Caskey 2-0-6, Meyer 3-0-7, Elder, Sventickas 3-1-8

Husson (4-5) 54

Ballard 3-0-9, Murray 3-0-9, Merchant 1-1-3, Gracie 8-2-23, McIntosh 1-2-4, Hartshorn, Bell, Melcher, Noyes 2-2-6, Post, McIntyre

3-pt. goals: Fornetti, Garvey, Glynn 2, Babcock, Caskey 2, Meyer, Sventickas; Ballard 3, Murray 3, Gracie 5

Halftime: Albion 35-11