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After giving up a halftime lead in their opening game, the University of Maine women’s basketball team took their turn to come from behind and pick up their first win of the season over Bryant University 74-66.
The win brought the Black Bears to 1-1, while the Bulldogs dropped to 0-3.
The Black Bears came back from a nine-point deficit at the break, outscoring the Bulldogs 43-26 in the second half to hand Bryant their third-straight loss to start this season.
The Black Bears were led by freshman Amber Smith, who doubled her high score from the season opener, ending with 22 points. Three other Black Bears also scored in double figures in the victory, with freshman and sophomore guards Ashleigh Roberts and Katelyn Vanderhoff chiming in with 12 points each and junior forward Samantha Wheeler finishing with a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was evenly contested through the midpoint of the first half, until the Bulldogs ripped off a 14-4 run to take a 29-18 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs would take a 40-31 lead into halftime, led by forward Siamone Bennett’s 15 first-half points. Bennett finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
With more than 13 minutes remaining in the game, Vanderhoff brought the Black Bears back, scoring on three straight possessions, narrowing the deficit from nine to two.
Senior guard Tanna Ross tied the game at 50 with just under 11 minutes remaining. Vanderhoff gave the Black Bears their first lead of the second half with a little over five minutes remaining.
UMaine would not relinquish the lead from that point on, as the Black Bears grabbed their first victory of the season.
The Black Bears return to Alfond Arena Tuesday night to take on Central Connecticut State.
