BALTIMORE, Md. – The University of Maine pulled out to an early 12-0 lead, then held off a couple of determined rallies while posting a 60-45 America East women’s basketball victory over Maryland Baltimore County on Saturday night.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s Black Bears improved to 11-5 overall, 6-0 in conference play with their sixth straight win. It was the 22nd consecutive regular-season league victory for UMaine, which has moved into sole possession of first place in the America East standings after Hartford was knocked off by Albany on Saturday.

The Retrievers, in their first season of AE competition, slipped to 0-15 overall, 0-6 in the conference.

Senior forward Heather Ernest of Temple led the way for UMaine with 16 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Melissa Heon provided 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Missy Traversi chipped in with nine points, Monica Peterson contributed eight points and seven rebounds, and Julie Veilleux of Augusta pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

Courtney Doughman went 5-for-6 from 3-point range on her way to a game-high 17 points for UMBC.

UMaine built its 12-point bulge in the first half and led by as many as 15 points (32-17) behind three 3-pointers by Traversi. The Retrievers battled back to within eight at halftime, thanks to 7-for-12 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

UMBC, which forced several of the Bears’ 21 turnovers, eventually trimmed the deficit to 41-37 with 9:56 remaining. However, Ernest made two layups during an 8-0 run that gave UMaine some breathing room.

The Bears, who outrebounded the hosts 42-21, made converted eight of 10 free throws down the stretch to put the game away.

The Bears shot 42 percent from the field in the contest and outscored UMBC 16-4 from the foul line.

UMaine returns to action Wednesday night with a key America East game against Northeastern (9-6, 3-3 AE) at Solomon Court in Boston.

BLACK BEARS 60, RETRIEVERS 45

Maine (11-5) UMBC (0-15)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Ernest 6 10 4 5 16 Rohde 3 5 7

Veilleux 0 7 2 2 2 Powell 2 4 4

Schrader 1 3 2 2 4 Brown 2 7 7

Heon 5 9 3 5 15 Goncharova 1 12 4

Corbitt 0 1 1 2 1 Luttrell 0 0

Traversi 3 8 0 0 9 Doughman 6 17

Underwood 1 3 0 0 3 Santos 1 2 3

Hugstad-Vaa 1 1 0 0 2 Pender 0 2 0

Barker 0 0 0 0 0 Voss 1 2 3

Peterson 2 3 4 4 8

Totals 19 45 16 20 60 Totals 16 48 45

Maine 34 60

UMBC 26 45

3-pt. goals ? Maine (6-15): Veilleux 0-1, Heon 2-4, Traversi 3-7, Underwood 1-3; UMBC (9-26): Rohde 1-2, Brown 1-4, Goncharova 1-9, Luttrell 0-4, Doughman 5-6, Santos 1-1

Attendance: 384