WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – One America East coach this season referred to University of Maine guards Kim Corbitt and Missy Traversi as a two-headed “monster.”

On Thursday, with Corbitt sidelined most of the game with a shoulder injury and Traversi suffering from a wrist ailment – both sustained in the first half – Boston University was able to play the role of dragon-slayer.

The eighth-seeded Terriers held the No. 1 Black Bears to their worst shooting effort of the season and exhibited tremendous offensive balance while knocking off UMaine 63-51 in an America East quarterfinal at Reich Pavilion on the campus of the University of Hartford.

Boston University (14-15), which became the first No. 8 seed in league history to beat a No. 1, advances to today’s 6 p.m. semifinal against Vermont.

“We knew, being the No. 8 seed, we’re the underdog,” said Rachel Vanderwal, who sparked BU with 15 points, eight rebounds and tight defense on Traversi.

“We knew we were going to face Maine at one point or another in the tournament and why not knock them out their first round, so it’s a great feeling,” she said.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s UMaine team, which had its winning streak snapped at 13, finished the season 20-9. The Bears beat BU twice during the regular season.

“I’m very proud of this group,” Versyp said. “They battled so hard, kept fighting. Things just didn’t happen for us today.”

UMaine is holding out hope it might receive a berth in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

With their senior co-captains and catalysts hurting, the Bears lacked continuity at both ends of the court.

Corbitt, named the conference’s player of the year and best defensive player, was hurt early in the first half when she collided with a BU player while trying to make a steal and jammed her left shoulder.

She gutted it out, but was ineffective and didn’t play after halftime. Corbitt, who had averaged 34 minutes per game this season, played only 14.

“I couldn’t lift my arm,” Corbitt said. “If I could have lifted my arm, I would have played.”

Traversi, UMaine’s other all-league, first-team pick, also was hurt in the first half. The blow to her right wrist affected her ballhandling and her shooting.

“She just cracked it really hard on the ground. She couldn’t feel her whole hand at all,” Versyp explained.

BU knew containing Traversi and Corbitt was the key to beating the Bears. With Corbitt on the bench, the Terriers’ job was much easier, as first-year BU coach Kelly Greenberg explained.

“Obviously Corbitt’s such a great player, their leader on and off the court,” she said. “You hate to see anyone end their career that way.

BU knew with Corbitt out, Traversi would have to take over the point and wind up sacrificing some of her offensive potential as a result.

“[Corbitt] gets Traversi more shots,” Greenberg said. “Without Corbitt on the court there’s no one really setting her up.”

The Terriers led most of the way and extended their advantage early in the second half. Cheri Raffo hit a 17-footer and two free throws during a 6-0 flurry that put BU in front 36-26 with 17:34 remaining.

In the meantime, UMaine’s offensive struggles continued against BU’s tenacious man-to-man. When Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor converted a back-door lob from Traversi with 15:33 left, it was the Bears’ first field goal in six minutes.

“We never got in a rhythm,” Versyp said. “I thought our organization was off and our poise and that’s what Kim brings a lot.”

With senior forward Monica Peterson (14 points, 10 rebounds) setting the tone, UMaine refused to fold. Barker made two foul shots and Benton’s Ashley Underwood drilled a 3-pointer in transition to slice the deficit to 46-40 with 8:43 to play.

After the teams traded baskets, Katie Meinhardt hit a big 3-pointer to keep the momentum with BU and push the lead to nine. The Bears couldn’t get closer than six after that.

“We battled to the end and we showed Maine pride,” Traversi said. “We hung in there as long as we could. Everyone gave it their all.”

UMaine shot a season-low 26 percent from the floor (15-for-57). Underwood and Barker (5 rebounds) netted 11 points each for the Bears, who went 3-for-16 from 3-point range.

Traversi finished with six points, five rebounds and three assists. Corbitt had three points. Schrader posted nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

“Missy, injured and everything, played her heart out,” Underwood said. The seniors, they wanted to get it done and it’s too bad that we couldn’t get it done for them. We didn’t want it to end like this.”

Adrienne Norris provided 11 points and 10 rebounds for BU while Meinhardt (who poured in 47 in Wednesday’s first-round game) and Raffo added 10 each.

TERRIERS 63, BLACK BEARS 51

Boston University (14-15) Maine (20-9)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Meinhardt 3 9 2 4 10 Traversi 3 11 0 0 6

Raffo 2 4 6 8 10 Corbitt 0 2 3

Vanderwal 7 12 0 0 15 Barker 3 11 11

Norris 4 14 3 4 11 Peterson 4 10 6 6 14

Parr 4 12 0 0 9 Schrader 1 10 4

Bonner 0 2 0 0 0 Underwood 3 11

Devine 3 7 2 2 8 Hugstd-Vaa 0 0

Whittier 1 3 2

Totals 23 60 13 18 63 15 57 18 20 51

Boston Univ. 28 63

Maine 22 51

3-pt. goals – Boston U. (4-16): Meinhardt 2-5, Vanderwal 1-3, Parr 1-4, Norris 0-2, Bonner 0-2; Maine (3-16): Underwood 3-6, Traversi 0-5, Barker 0-2, Whittier 0-2, Peterson 0-1

Attendance: 657