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ORONO – Not much has been pretty about this season for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.
But Saturday afternoon, just when it looked like another hefty lead was about to be squandered, it was the seniors – in their final game at Alfond Arena – who showed why they run the show.
Behind a combined 47 points from the team’s two starlets, Ashley Underwood and Bracey Barker, the Black Bears held off a late rally by the visiting University of Maryland-Baltimore County to win 79-72.
With the win, UMaine improves to 13-12 overall, 7-7 in America East play, and takes sole possession of third place behind 13-1 Hartford and 12-2 Stony Brook. UMBC, 13-15, 6-9, falls to the bottom of a four-team scramble for fourth place behind Vermont, Binghamton and Boston University.
“The last two games [losses to Vermont and Boston University] we let get away from us for sure and I think it was key for us to get this win, especially going into Hartford and Stony Brook to close the season,” said Underwood.
Barker tossed in a game-high 24 points and Underwood finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa tallied 11 points and Katie Whittier contributed six points, four rebounds and three assists.
“We had a good inside game and good outside game so you couldn’t just guard one or the other,” said Barker. “We were able to connect on all aspects.”
Underwood went 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 55 seconds to counter a 50-second, 11-point scoring binge by the Retrievers that pulled them within five. UMaine had led by as many as 18 in the second half.
“Our defense did a very good job in the first half,” said head coach Ann McInerney. “They started bombing late, but when you have Ashley and Bracey on the foul line, it gives everyone a lot of confidence knowing how good they are from the foul line.”
The Black Bears jumped out to an early 15-2 lead and led 36-22 at halftime behind Barker’s 14 points.
“They do a great job against our zone for some reason,” said UMBC coach Phil Stern. “It was an emotional time for them and they came out and played well early and we didn’t. I told the kids, they opened up on an 8-0 run and we lost by seven.”
Sharri Rhode led the way for the Retrievers with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kristin Drabyn added 14 and Brittnie Hughes notched 10 points and six assists.
The Bears take on Hartford on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Stony Brook on Saturday at 4 p.m. Even if UMaine loses both, they are guaranteed to finish no lower than sixth place.
“It’s a mini playoff run for us,” said McInerney. “We have to go out and play the top two teams and knowing that we’ll be on the road for both of their senior games. Hopefully, we’ll have an opportunity to knock them off or fix some things if we see them in [the conference tournament].”
Bangor Daily News