CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — Junior guard Sigi Koizar scored 22 points to lead the University of Maine Black Bears to a 64-53 women’s basketball victory over the Harvard University Crimson in a mutual opener Friday night at Lavietes Pavilion.
Koizar also contributed with three assists, two steals and three rebounds while the Bears received 12 points each from senior guard Chantel Charles and senior forward Mikaela Gustafsson.
The Bears turned in a 24-for-53 shooting effort (45.3 percent) from the floor while holding the Crimson to 20-for-50 (40 percent).
Gustafsson and senior forward Liz Wood each grabbed six rebounds to help Maine gain a 34-29 advantage over Harvard. Charles also had five rebounds while Wood contributed seven assists and four steals.
Senior guard Shilpa Tummala sparked Harvard with 17 points and senior forward AnnMarie Healy added 10.
The Bears took an 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and then outscored Harvard 20-12 in the second quarter to take a 31-22 halftime lead.
Koizar sparked a 12-3 Maine scoring surge in the quarter’s last 4:47 when she sank two free throws, nailed a 3-pointer and scored off a layup. Senior guard Lauren Bodine started the surge with a 3-pointer, and Gustafsson ended it with a layup.
The Bears rattled off seven unanswered points to start the third quarter when Charles and Gustafsson each made a layup and Koizar nailed another 3-pointer for a 38-22 lead with 6:20 left in the quarter.
Harvard managed to close the gap to 12 at the end of the third and whittled Maine’s lead down to 48-41 with 7:57 left in the game when Tummala hit a 3-pointer.
Maine answered with a layup by senior guard Sophie Weckstrom and another Koizar 3-pointer to up its lead to 53-41 with 6:30 left. Harvard could get no closer than eight for the rest of the way.
The Bears stay on the road for a 1 p.m. Sunday contest against Boston College.