CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Ashley Underwood connected for a game-high 23 points Friday, including an 11-for-11 effort from the foul line, to spark the University of Maine women’s basketball team to a 79-63 victory over Northwestern State in the consolation game of the Marriott Cavalier Classic at John Paul Jones Arena.

Coach Ann McInerney’s Black Bears improve to 6-5 and head into America East play with a winning record for the first time since 2002-03. UMaine plays host to New Hampshire Wednesday night at 7:30.

UMaine snapped a four-game losing streak with a cohesive team performance, placing four players in double figures for the second game in a row.

“It was a great game, a big win for us,” McInerney said, citing the Bears’ effort in Thursday’s loss to Virginia as an emotional springboard.

“I think it was a confidence game for us [Thursday],” she said. “The key was having 21 assists on 26 baskets. That’s what we need to do.”

Underwood, a senior from Benton, equaled a school single-game record with her effort at the foul line (based on a minimum 10 attempts). She also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists.

Senior Katie Whittier of New Gloucester posted her fifth consecutive double-figure scoring game with 17 points and also pulled down 12 rebounds. She added three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

Senior Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa went 7-for-7 from the field on her way to a career-best 17 points for the Bears. She also chipped in with four assists and six rebounds.

Junior Kris Younan netted 11 points, handed out four assists and made three steals for UMaine, which outscored Northwestern State (4-9) of Natchitoches, La., 23-8 at the foul line and outrebounded the Demons 41-20.

UMaine shot 67 percent from the field (14-for-21) in the second half and 59 percent overall.

“I thought we passed the ball very well and we stayed in the attack mode,” McInerney said.

Tena Matthews, Chassidy Jones and Natasha Isom paced Northwestern State with 12 points apiece.

The Bears trailed by as many as 10 points (28-18) with 8:02 left in the first half, but put together a 13-0 scoring run to regain the lead. Underwood tallied seven points during that key stretch.

UMaine finally took the upper hand during the middle portion of the second half. Paced by Abby Greene, Underwood and Younan, the Bears were able to negotiate the Demons’ full-court pressure and score baskets in transition.

Northwestern State led 44-43 when Younan’s layup ignited UMaine’s decisive 17-4 scoring surge. Greene and Underwood nailed 3-pointers and five different players scored as the Bears made it 60-48 with 6:35 to play.

“Second half, we were able to read the traps and reverse the ball and break their pressure,” McInerney said. “We did a great job on the defensive boards, made the outlet and got down the court. We were able to wear them down.”

BLACK BEARS 79, LADY DEMONS 63

N. Western State (4-9) Maine (6-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Barnum 1 7 3 4 5 Whittier 7 10 2 2 17

Kennedy 4 12 0 0 9 HgstdVaa 7 17

Givens 2 7 0 0 4 Younan 4 6 11

Jones 5 16 2 2 12 Underwd 5 10 11 11 23

Matthews 5 14 1 2 12 Greene 1 6 3

Knox 1 1 0 0 3 Baker 0 0 0 0

Greene 0 3 0 0 0 Colon 1 1 2

Williams 0 0 0 0 0 Tewksbry 0 0

Gertonson 1 2 0 0 2 Bowen 1 2 3

B. Isom 2 3 0 0 4 Kilmurray 0 2

N. Isom 5 10 2 2 12 Vaitkute 0 1

Bratishko 0 0 0

Totals 26 75 8 10 63 Totals 26 44 23 26 79

Northwestern State 34 63

Maine 36 79

3-pt. goals – Northwestern State (3-14): Kennedy 1-4, Givens 0-2, Jones 0-1, Matthews 1-4, Knox 1-1, Greene 0-2; Maine (4-14): Whittier 1-1, Younan 0-2, Underwood 2-5, Greene 1-5, Bowen 0-1

Attendance: 283