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ORONO – The University of Maine has a tradition of winning games at Alfond Arena with spirited second-half comebacks.
Wednesday night, the Black Bears dug themselves too deep a first-half hole and couldn’t make up the deficit.
All-conference guard Rachel Laws burned UMaine for a game-high 24 points and Binghamton held off the Black Bears for a 66-56 women’s basketball victory in the teams’ mutual America East opener at Alfond Arena in Orono.
“Maine obviously is an outstanding, well-established, top team in the America East and to come onto their floor and get a victory is very special for our program,” said Bearcats coach Rich Conover.
Coach Ann McInerney’s Bears (4-7), plagued by uninspired play and foul trouble in the first half, spotted Binghamton (7-4) a 14-point halftime lead. UMaine rallied after the break, but was unable to regain the momentum.
“You can’t come out against a conference opponent flat, not do the little things, let them outwork you, outhustle you, outmuscle you – get yourself in a situation where you’re down 14 points at half – and expect good things to come,” McInerney said.
Binghamton played a strong first half, bottling up the Bears on the defensive end while using its offensive rebounding prowess to get numerous second and third chances.
The Bearcats finished with a 38-33 edge on the boards, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.
“(It’s) very frustrating,” said junior Ashley Underwood of Benton, who led UMaine with 15 points. “It’s our first conference game and it’s home. We have such a great tradition here. No one likes to lose at home, especially.”
Abby Schrader scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half to help lead the comeback effort. She also pulled down a game-best 13 rebounds. Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds.
However, the Bears recorded only eight assists among their 17 field goals.
Laine Kurpniece complemented Laws’ performance with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jen Blues added 10 points.
Despite its inability to rebound effectively and get its transition game clicking, UMaine challenged in the second half.
Underwood scored six straight points, including a 3-pointer, to get the Bears within 43-33 with 12:00 remaining.
Then, trailing 56-43, UMaine started pounding the ball inside to Schrader. She made four straight free throws, then answered a foul shot by BU’s Laws with a hoop off a baseline move to get the Bears within 57-49 with 3:10 left.
Katie Whittier’s 3-pointer off an Underwood penetrate-and-kick pass got UMaine within 57-52 with 2:20 to play.
However, Laws drove in for a layup and Blues converted an Underwood turnover by making two foul shots to push the Bearcats’ lead to 61-52 with 1:18 left.
“I think we just showed more hustle and determination,” Underwood said. “We can’t wait until that point, though – we just got ourselves in a hole and couldn’t get back out of it.”
Binghamton, the league’s top offensive team, used defense and rebounding to forge a 35-21 halftime advantage.
The Bearcats stifled Schrader inside and also refused to allow Whittier to get significantly involved in the offense. UMaine’s turnover woes continued as it committed 12 miscues in the half, including four offensive fouls.
“It’s extremely disappointing, because I think they did all the things that we were able to do against Holy Cross (Monday afternoon),” McInerney said.
Binghamton controlled play during the last seven minutes, posting a 15-4 scoring run. Laws converted a low-post move, scored off a weak-side rebound and added two free throws as the Bearcats turned a 19-17 edge into a 14-point lead.
Shea Kenney’s 3-pointer with five seconds left in the half punctuated the surge.
Bear tracks: Wednesday marked the return to Orono of former Bears assistant coach Tara Morrison, who is now on Rich Conover’s staff at Binghamton. Morrison spent four seasons (2001-05) at UMaine under Sharon Versyp, working mostly with the post players.
BEARCATS 66, BLACK BEARS 56
Binghamton (7-4) Maine (4-7)
Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP
Haubrich 2 13 4 6 8 Whittier 2 5
Laws 8 15 8 9 24 Barker 5 12 1 12
Kurpniece 3 6 5 6 11 Schrader 3 14
Blues 2 6 4 4 10 Underwd 3 14 10 15
Kenny 1 4 0 0 3 Elderton 2 5
Sario 0 1 0 0 0 Younan 2 3 5
Jahilo 1 6 1 3 3 Hgstd-Va 0 0
Lindgren 1 2 2 2 5 Bryant 0 0 0
Thompson 1 4 0 0 2 Kilmurray 0 0
Franceski 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 19 57 24 30 66 Totals 17 44 18 23 56
Binghamton 35 66
Maine 21 56
3-pt. goals – Binghamton (4-13): Blues 2-6, Lindgren 1-2, Kenny 1-3, Kurpniece 0-1, Thompson 0-1; Maine (4-13): Whittier 1-1, Younan 1-1, Barker 1-4, Underwood 1-6, Schrader 0-1
Attendance: 1,621
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