DURHAM, N.H. – Sharon Versyp on Sunday compared her task coaching this year’s youthful University of Maine women’s basketball team to that of a surgeon.

The Black Bears aren’t badly “wounded,” but Versyp is constantly faced with frequent smaller complications that adversely affect the overall health of her team.

UMaine kept its turnovers in check and rebounded hard against New Hampshire, but the Bears’ 31 percent shooting enabled the Wildcats to pull out a 79-72 America East victory in front of 1,182 fans at the Whittemore Center.

The Bears, playing their ninth road game among their last 12 contests, struggled to find the hoop consistently. UMaine, now 4-11 overall and 1-5 in league play, fired up 77 shots to 59 for New Hampshire, which improved to 5-10 (3-3 AE).

The Bears have lost five in a row for the first time since 1992-93, but Versyp and her players aren’t hanging their heads.

“We’re getting close. I don’t think anybody should count us out,” Versyp said, the Bears’ head “surgeon.” “All of a sudden there’s a little bleeder and you put a little gauze pad there and it takes care of that, and then there’s another bleeder,” she added.

UMaine’s offensive woes were apparent. Freshman Julie Veilleux of Augusta, who is averaging 10.7 points per game on 41 percent shooting, went scoreless in 16 minutes, going 0-for-10 from the field.

Senior captain Kizzy Lopez wound up 2-for-15 from the floor, while Lacey Stone went 3-for-10.

“Our kids had some fight. If we shot a little bit better, maybe the result would have been a little bit different,” Versyp said.

Freshman forward Heather Ernest of Temple battled relentlessly underneath, leading UMaine with career highs of 21 points and 21 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards. The Bears outrebounded the Wildcats 55-44.

UMaine committed 18 turnovers, six below its inauspicious season average, with only seven coming in the second half.

Sophomore guard Ellen Geraghty took advantage of her quickness while scoring a career-high 15 points, while Lopez contributed nine points and six rebounds. Stone and Tracy Guerrette of St. Agatha (three steals) chipped in with eight points each.

Heidi Plencner paced a balanced UNH attack with 21 points, including an 8-for-8 effort from the foul line. Six-foot-four freshman center Maren Mathias finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly Donohue netted 11 points and dished out seven assists.

Anna Mathias added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Kiki Proctor chipped in with eight points, five assists and no turnovers.

UMaine struggled defending in the post and the ‘Cats made a critical offensive surge five minutes into the second half, taking advantage of their frontcourt height and strength. UNH attacked the baseline and then dumped the ball inside to Maren Mathias.

“Our post players haven’t been able to adjust yet to trying to front the post when they get us too low,” Versyp said. “Our size is very limited.”

Leading 40-32, the ‘Cats rode Mathias’ inside play during a decisive 15-0 spurt. After making a free throw, she scored three unanswered baskets from down low, all off Donohue feeds from the baseline.

“They put a post player short corner and then had the other big girl flashing. I didn’t adjust well to that and I am one of the post players who doesn’t do well getting around to front the post,” Ernest admitted. “They just would seal and pin and nobody wanted to get around them. And when they get you that deep, you’re pretty much helpless.”

Taylore Jarvis’ 18-footer, two Plencner foul shots and a fast-break layup by Donohue pushed the UNH advantage to 53-32 with 12:54 remaining.

Geraghty and Ernest scored four points each as UMaine put together a 16-4 run to claw within 59-52 with 6:40 left, but the ‘Cats patiently forced the Bears to foul and made 12 of their last 15 free throws to secure the win.

New Hampshire outscored UMaine 11-1 during a stretch of 51/2 minutes to take a 19-9 first-half lead. The Bears, who trailed 32-24 at halftime, never got closer than six in the second half.

Wildcats 79, Black Bears 72

Maine (4-11) New Hampshire (5-10)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP

Ernest 6 19 9 10 21 Bushey 1 6 0 2

Lopez 2 15 5 8 4 Jarvis 4 6 0 8

Moldre 2 2 0 0 4 A. Matthias 2 11 10

Heon 0 0 2 2 2 Plencner 5 10 21

Veilleux 0 10 0 0 0 Proctor 2 3 8

Guerrette 2 5 3 3 8 Caschera 1 2

Stone 3 10 0 0 8 Donohue 4 9 3 11

Geraghty 7 11 1 1 15 Harrison 1 2

Sobel 0 0 0 0 0 M. Matthias 5 10 15

James 2 5 1 2 5

Totals 24 77 21 26 72 Totals 25 59 25 38 79

Maine 24 72

New Hampshire 32 79

3-pt. goals: Maine (3-20): Stone 2-6, Guerrette 1-4, Ernest 0-3, Lopez 0-4, Veilleux 0-2, Geraghty 0-1; New Hampshire (4-9): Plencner 3-6, Proctor 1-1, Bushey 0-1, Harrison 0-1

Attendance: 1,182