ORONO – The ability of the University of Maine women’s basketball team to play sound man-to-man defense will go a long way toward determining how much success it achieves during the 2006-07 season.

The Black Bears limited Division II Assumption College to 31 points in the first 30 minutes of action Sunday afternoon while cruising to a 69-55 exhibition victory at Alfond Arena.

With all 14 players available for action, coach Ann McInerney utilized numerous personnel combinations as UMaine prepares for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. home season opener against William & Mary.

“I thought our girls really played hard and came out excited to play in the Alfond,” McInerney said. “I thought their intensity level was very good.”

The Bears built their advantage with stingy defense, limiting the Greyhounds’ close-range opportunities and capitalizing with some crisp offensive play in transition.

Senior Katie Whittier of New Gloucester was outstanding at both ends, contributing 14 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots in 23 minutes.

“Our defense dictates how we play on offense, so that’s definitely the key,” Whittier said.

Freshman guard Amanda Tewksbury, who struggled a bit Tuesday night, tossed in a game-high 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.

“I just think it was nice to get the New Brunswick game off my chest, get the experience a little bit,” Tewksbury said. “I felt a lot more comfortable in this game.”

Junior Kris Younan provided 11 points, five boards, and four assists while senior Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor added nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

The Bears began to pull away in the last seven minutes of the first half. Tewksbury opened a 7-0 run with a stumbling shot from the foul line, then Younan converted a three-point play off a nifty backcourt cut and Barker scored off a rebound.

Trish Gardner countered for Assumption with a layup, but Whittier scored six of the next eight UMaine points to spark a 19-5 spurt that made it 37-19 late in the half.

The Bears led 55-30 midway through the second half before the Greyhounds cut into the deficit against many of UMaine’s younger players. UMaine shot 51 percent from the field (26-for-51).

Charde Floyd led Assumption with 13 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Portland’s Megan Urban added 12 points and five rebounds.

BLACK BEARS 69, GREYHOUNDS 55

Assumption Maine

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Paulson 0 8 2 2 2 Whittier 6 12

Lambert 1 1 0 0 2 Barker 4 8 9

Urban 6 12 0 1 12 Younan 3 7 11

Floyd 3 10 7 10 13 Greene 1 2 4

Plasski 2 10 0 0 5 Tewksbry 6 14

Bishop 1 4 2 2 4 Baker 0 0 0

Sheehy 4 7 0 0 9 Colon 1 2 3

Czarnecki 0 2 0 0 0 Undrwod 1 2 5

Lupien 0 1 0 2 0 Hgstd-Va 2 4

Gardner 2 3 2 2 7 Boser 0 0 2

Parker 0 4 1 2 1 Bowen 1 4 2

Kilmurray 1 2 3

Vaitkute 0 2 0

Totals 19 62 14 21 55 Totals 26 51 11 14 69

Assumption 22 55

Maine 37 69

3-pt. goals – Assumption (3-12): Paulson 0-1, Urban 0-1, Plasski 1-4, Sheehy 1-4, Gardner 1-1, Parker 0-1; Maine (6-17): Barker 1-3, Younan 1-2, Greene 1-2, Tewksbury 0-2, Colon 1-1, Underwood 1-2, Bowen 0-3, Kilmurray 1-2

Attendance: 1,042