WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Missy Traversi of the University of Maine and Hartford’s Erika Messam had the same assignment Saturday afternoon – shut down the other.

Each succeeded most of the way, symbolizing the gritty defensive battle between the league’s top two teams. With the game on the line, Traversi finally broke loose.

She scored the Black Bears’ last eight points, made two key defensive plays, and grabbed the clinching rebound – all in the final 3 minutes, 15 seconds – to lift the Black Bears to a 56-51 victory in front of 1,773 fans at Reich Family Pavilion.

Traversi finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals as UMaine improved to 16-8 overall, 12-2 in league play, with its ninth straight win.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s first-place Bears now hold a two-game lead over Hartford (16-7, 10-4 AE), which had its 10-game home win streak snapped.

“To come in here, to make a statement on that court, on the court where we’re going to be playing the tournament, that was just major for us,” Traversi said.

Traversi, who limited Messam to six points on 3-for-10 shooting, admitted the defensive struggle took its toll.

“It is frustrating, but we stayed poised and I think that’s what was huge. We didn’t force anything,” Traversi said.

Bracey Barker was a strong post presence for the Bears with 12 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Monica Peterson and Kim Corbitt contributed nine points each and Abby Schrader added eight.

Shifty guard Ikea Witt, who was shadowed most of the game by Peterson, tallied 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting to pace Hartford. Danielle Hood posted 13 points and six rebounds for the Hawks, who turned the ball over 18 times.

Neither team made a 3-pointer while the Bears managed only five assists and the Hawks had eight.

“It just seems like they always know all of our plays and they always know where we’re going,” Peterson said. “They’re so physical, so it’s daunting the whole game. It’s just a fight.”

UMaine trailed 44-40 with 8:01 left but received a boost from its run-and-jump pressure. Peterson made back-to-back steals, feeding Barker for a wide-open layup and scoring one herself 13 seconds later to tie the game.

“Maine didn’t give away the ball like that,” said Hartford coach Jen Rizzotti. “That was probably the biggest two plays of the game.”

Hartford regained the lead on a Hood free throw and Jenna Gale’s baseline layup, but UMaine countered with Corbitt’s 8-footer from the baseline and Barker’s hoop from the lane.

Peterson then alertly made a pinpoint pass to Traversi, who scored on a back-door cut with 3:15 left to give the Bears a 50-47 lead. UMaine did not commit a turnover during the last 51/2 minutes.

“We executed exceptionally well and that was the key,” Versyp said. “We knew we wanted to run the clock down a little bit, but if we have a good shot, we want to take it.”

Messam answered for Hartford with a short runner, but Traversi made a driving lefthanded layup. The Hawks then pulled back within one on Hood’s lefthanded layup with 1:00 remaining.

However, Traversi hit a critical foul-line jumper with one second left on the shot clock and 28 seconds to play in the contest.

“It was a lot of one-on-one situations today because we had prepared for each other’s offense so well,” Rizzotti said. “If that doesn’t go in, it’s a whole other ballgame, but she was tough.”

Messam came up short on a take to the basket against Traversi, who rebounded the miss and was fouled. She made one free throw to give the Bears a four-point lead with 18.1 seconds to play, then clinched the win by drawing a player control foul against Messam.

BLACK BEARS 56, HAWKS 51

Maine (16-8) Hartford (16-7)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Traversi 7 13 2 5 16 Wexler 0 1 0

Corbitt 4 9 1 1 9 Messam 3 10 6

Barker 5 12 2 5 12 Witt 7 9 19

Peterson 2 5 5 6 9 Gale 2 4 4

Schrader 4 7 0 0 8 Price 3 8 7

Underwood 0 3 0 0 0 Gomez 0 0 0

Hugstad-Vaa 1 3 0 0 2 Matulis 0 1 0

Whittier 0 0 0 0 0 Hood 5 7 13

Stich 1 4 0 2

Totals 23 52 10 17 56 Totals 21 44 19 51

Maine 28 56

Hartford 25 51

3-pt. goals – Maine (0-5): Traversi 0-2, Barker 0-2, Underwood 0-1; Hartford (0-7): Wexler 0-1, Messam 0-3, Stich 0-3

Attendance: 1,773