BANGOR, Maine — The University of Maine women’s basketball program has spent several weeks promoting its efforts to aid the Play4Kay initiative, which supports cancer research and awareness through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
It wasn’t easy, but the Black Bears celebrated their “Pink Game” with a victory on Sunday afternoon.
Sigi Koizar made nine of 10 free throws in the last 2 minutes, 11 seconds to help UMaine grind out a 57-49 America East win over Stony Brook at the Cross Insurance Center.
An announced crowd of 3,454 cheered on UMaine, which held the Seawolves to 21 second-half points on the way to their 11th consecutive victory.
“I think you always want to win the Pink Game, especially with that many people here and coach looking like that (with a shaved head),” said Koizar, who made sure UMaine did not disappoint.
For the fourth straight year, UMaine raised $10,000 for Play4Kay and generated another $2,000 in pink uniform auction funds for Caring Connections, a cooperative women’s health program of the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center.
“We needed the crowd to get behind us,” said UMaine coach Richard Barron, who dyed his hair pink for the game and had his head shaved after the win.
“We needed that energy.”
Koizar scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half and added five rebounds for UMaine (19-6, 11-1 AE), which moved back into a first-place tie with Albany. Liz Wood posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists and Courtney Anderson of Greene provided 10 points.
Kori Bayne-Walker sparked Stony Brook (14-11, 7-5 AE) with 12 points, five assists and two steals. Chris Scognamiglio tossed in 14 points behind four 3-pointers, Brittany Snow netted 11 points and Jessica Ogunnorin chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.
UMaine built a small cushion in the second half. A basket from underneath by Koizar, Anderson’s foul-line jumper and Sophie Weckstrom’s driving runner made it 45-40 with 7:34 left.
Bayne-Walker later made three of four foul shots to get SBU within two, but the Bears scored their last 12 points from the foul line. Koizar went 7-for-8 in a key stretch to push UMaine’s lead to 52-45 with 56 seconds to play.
“I’ve shot so many free throws in my life and that’s what I remind myself of, it’s just another free throw,” Koizar said of her mindset.
The hosts limited the Seawolves, who shot 46 percent in the first half, to 6-for-24 shooting after intermission. SBU ment more than nine minutes without a field goal.
“I’m extremely proud of this team for finding a way to win that game,” Barron said.
In the first half, UMaine had trouble containing Stony Brook with its 2-3 matchup zone and switched into player-to-player. The Bears also had difficulty on offense, committing eight turnovers against Stony Brook’s player-to-player defense.
SBU pulled in front 20-12 with a 10-0 run that included two baskets by Snow, but the Bears responded with a 13-4 rally.
Anderson made one, then Wood answered a Snow runner by sandwiching 3-pointers around a hoop by Bayne-Walker. Bella Swan’s 12-footer and a layup by Koizar put UMaine ahead 25-24 with 5:03 to play.
“We got punched in the mouth in the beginning in the first half and we responded well and I think that’s important for us, especially when we head into tournament time,” Wood said.