Men’s Basketball game losses third game of series rounding out the series as a loss
In their final game of the Steve Wright Classic the University of Maine Black Bears (2-4) narrowly fell to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (4-1) with a final score of 71-66.
Brooklyn’s fourth-year guard Iverson Fleming scored the game-high 26 points with his teammates first-year guard Jashaun Agosto and redshirt fourth-year forward Jerome Frink also scoring 13 each, making up 52 of Brooklyn’s points in these three players.
Third-year guard Ilker Er led the Black Bears in points, scoring 13 points in the game, his best so far this season. He was closely followed by third-year guard Wes Myers and redshirt first-year guard Dennis Ashley, who each scored 11 points.
Brooklyn led the game from the start with the score being tied up once during the 40 minutes of play.
Men’s Basketball earns much needed win
The University of Maine earned their second win of the season after a three game losing streak, defeating the University of Maine, Presque Isle (UMPI) Owls (1-3) with a final score of 96-45. Maine led the game from the start, earning a much-needed win.
Third-year guard Howard Austin led the game with points scored, scoring 19 points during the game. This was Austin’s highest scoring game this season, having only scored 3 points in the previous game. Fellow Black Bears Er and first-year forward Andrew Fleming each scored 15 and 14 points, respectively. Fourth-year forward Marko Pirovic was the only other Black Bear to score in the double digits, notching 12 points.
UMPI’s only player to score in the double digits was third-year forward Maurice Harris, scoring 16 points. Other top scorers were third-year guard Anthony Chacho and fourth-year guard Derek Healy, with 9 and 8 points each, respectively.
Black Bears fall to No. 3 USC
The Lady Black Bears fell in their second game of the Naismith Memorial Basketball hall of Fame Women’s Challenge 79-42 to No. 3 University of South Carolina on Nov. 21.
South Carolina had five players score in the double digits, with third-year forward A’ja Wilson leading the team with 14 points on the night. Right behind her was first-year forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan with 13 points on the night and fourth-year captain Alaina Coates with 12 points on the night. Rounding out the double digit scorers for South Carolina were third-year guards Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray.
Only one Black Bear scored in the double digits. First-year guard Julie Brosseau scored 11 points for Maine. This was Brosseau’s highest scoring game so far this season. Other key scorers were first-year guard Naira Caceres and first-year forward Anita Kelava with 7 points each.
Black Bears fall to Hampton as tournament play continues
The Black Bears fell to Hampton University (2-4) on Nov. 22 in their third game of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge 58-49. Maine’s fourth-year guard Sigi Koizar scored 25 points in this game with Hampton’s fourth-year guard, Malia Tate-Defreitas, scoring 24 points.
Maine ended the first half in the lead, but in the third period, Hampton managed to outscore the Black Bears 15-6, ending the third period in the lead. This was thanks to Tate-Defreitas 24 points, but also third-year forward Kaylah Lupoe who scored 12 points on the night. Other top scorers for Hampton was first-year guard Ashley Bates with 9 points and second-year guard K’lynn Willis with 6 points.
Koizar was the only other Black Bear to score within the double digits. Other high scorers for the Black Bears were Kelava with 7 points and first-year forward Laia Sole, with 6 points.
Maine earns a win against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Maine earns their second win of the tournament splitting it 2-2, after a 49-39 win over University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) (3-5).
UTC was leading the game until the end of the first half, finishing the half 22-21. In the third quarter, the Mocs picked up the pace and outscored the Black Bears 17-9, continuing this into the fourth period, ending the game with a 10-point lead.
Koizar was once again the top scorer for the Black Bears netting 13 points. Two other Black Bears got in the double digits. Sole scored 12 points for the Black Bears while Blanca Milan scored 10.
First-year guard Lakelyn Bouldin was the top scorer for UTC, netting 11 points on the night. Fourth-year forward Jasmine Joyner scored 10 points on the night and redshirt fourth-year guard Queen Alford scored 6.
Black Bears beat the Brown Bears 5-1
After a very uneventful start to the game, the University of Maine Black Bears (5-7-3, 1-4-1 HEA) beat the Brown University Bears (1-8, 1-5 ILDN) in Portland, Maine 5-1 on Nov. 26. Third-year forward Cedric Lacroix scored two of the five Black Bears goals of the night.
The first goal of the game came on a powerplay opportunity six minutes into the second period. Second-year defender Rob Michel found twine off an assist from fourth-year captain forward Blane Byron and third-year forward Nolan Vesey. The period remained pretty quiet until the last three minutes when Lacroix netted his first goal of the game, giving Maine the 2-0 lead. Second-year forward Brendan Robbins and fourth-year captain defender Eric Schurhamer got the assist on the play. This shutout ended, 30 seconds before the end of the period when third-year forward Sam Lafferty found the back of the net for the Brown Bears off an assist from fourth-year forward Andrew Doane and third-year defender Ben Tegtmeyer.
The third period saw Maine coming in hot scoring three goals. Lacroix scored his second goal of the game off Robbins and first-year defender Patrick Holway seven minutes into the period. About a minute later fourth-year captain forward Cam Brown scored on the power play opportunity. This was Brown’s first goal of the season, which came off an assist from first-year forward Chase Pearson and Michel. The final goal of the game was scored by Maine on the penalty kill when Byron received an assist from Brown and found twine.
Second-year goaltender Rob McGovern played in the net for the Black Bears, earning the win. Fourth-year goaltender Tim Ernst played in the net for the Brown Bears, taking the loss. Ernst was replaced in the final nine minutes by third-year goaltender Connor Maher.
Black Bears tie UNH 2-2 in Auburn
The University of Maine Black Bears (3-12-1, 2-8-1 HEA) took on the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats (5-11-1, 4-6-1 HEA) on Saturday, Nov. 26 in Auburn, Maine in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie.
The second period was the most eventful time of the game, as Maine scored both of their goals in this period with UNH scoring their first of two. Fourth-year forward Morgan Sakundiak scored the first goal of the game just under five minutes into the period off an assist from first-year forward Vendula Pribylova and third-year captain defender Jessica Vallotton, giving Maine the first lead of the game. Two minutes later third-year forward Brooke Stacey netted another goal for the Black Bears off an assist from first-year forward Tereza Vanisova and second-year defender Alyson Matteau.
The Wildcats did not let the Black Bears lead by two points for long, finding the back of the net two minutes later. First-year forward Nicole Dunbar found twine off an assist from first-year forward Carlee Turner and first-year forward Meghara McManus. This was all the scoring that the second period would see, ending the period with a 2-1 Maine lead.
It wasn’t until the final three minutes of play that the game was tied up, McManus found the back of the net off an assist from Dunbar ending the game with a 2-2 tie.
UNH will return to play on Friday, Dec. 2 against Merrimack College with a puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. The Black Bears returned home for a series against Dartmouth University on Monday and Tuesday Nov. 28 and 29.
