Smith leads Maine past UMass Lowell in OT 70-63

Orono, Maine — Adrianna Smith scored 18 of his career-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Black Bears went 2-0 in league play with a 70-63 win over UMass Lowell on Wednesday night.

Smith, who added 10 rebounds for his conference-leading seventh double-double of the season, finished 11-17 from the field with five assists and 12 points in a pivotal fourth quarter.

Anne-Simon added 17 points and nine boards in the process Caroline Bornemann finished with 14 points and 4 of 6 from three-point range.

Maine, which led by 11 before falling behind by 10 with 6:01 left, closed out the game on a 24-7 run to earn the win.

The Black Bears finished the night 24-of-56 from the floor (42.9), 7-of-22 from downtown (31.8) and posted season highs in both free throws made (15) and free throws made (22).

Maine got off to a hot start in the first quarter, hitting 4-8 from downtown, including each of their first three, all from Bornemann.

After Bornemann opened the game with his first of three threes in a four-minute span, his third three with 6:08 to go gave Maine an 11-4 lead.

UMass Lowell cut the lead to three before Maine responded with a 5-0 run. Another triple, this one by Simon, gave the hosts a six-point advantage before the Black Bears took their biggest lead of the first quarter, 16-8, after a Simon turnover.

An 8-2 run by the River Hawks cut the lead to two midway through the second period.

The Black Bears finished the first half strong, going on a 9-0 run as they held the River Hawks to a score in the final 4:29 of the second quarter. Bornemann led the way with a bucket and three to extend the lead to nine. Simon’s two free throws moved Maine to the half with its biggest lead of the night, 29-18.

UMass Lowell clawed its way back into the ballgame and started the second half with an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to three.

After Maine answered the run with a bucket, the River Hawks continued to charge. Another run, this one an 8-2 sprint, gave the visitors their first lead of the night, 36-35, with 4:36 left in the third quarter.

The run went on to 14-2 as the River Hawks’ lead grew to five before Simon stopped the bleeding with a bucket when he was fouled. Simon’s bucket started a 7-0 run for Maine as the Black Bears regained the lead 42-40 late in the third.

UMass Lowell went on a 7-0 run to end the third quarter, outscoring Maine 29-13 in the period to carry a 47-42 edge into the fourth.

The River Hawks took their biggest lead of the night at 56-46 with 6:20 left in regulation.

Smith started the comeback at Maine as his bucket jump started the Black Bears’ 12-1 run. Smith, who hit four buckets during the stretch, cut the lead to one with 3:00 on the clock before Simon’s triple put Maine back on top, 59-57, with 1:04 left.

A layup by UMass Lowell’s Ivory Finley tied the game at 59-59. Maine couldn’t get a shot on their next possession, sending the game into overtime.

Smith got Maine started in overtime with a field goal before UMass Lowell answered again to tie the knot.

On Maine’s next drive down the floor, Smith fired a pass out of the post Jaycie Christopher who moved it quickly Serah Hodgson. Hodgson knocked down a three from the corner, giving Maine a three-point lead. Black bears would no longer track.

The Black Bears kept UMass Lowell off the scoreboard in the final 2:16 of overtime and finished the game on a 4-0 run to seal the victory and move to 2-0 in America East play with a 70-63 win.

Maine returns to action on Saturday when it travels to NJIT for a 2 p.m

-UMaine-