Sigi Koizar poured in a career-high 32 points on Thursday night, spearheading the University of Maine to a 73-46 America East women’s basketball victory over UMass Lowell at Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Koizar, a junior guard from Austria, made 13 of 20 shots, going 4-for-7 from the 3-point arc, to help the Black Bears post their eighth consecutive victory. She also led the team with five rebounds, five assists and a steal.
The 32 points surpassed her previous high of 30, which she achieved in a 69-65 win at Missouri State on Nov. 28, 2015.
Coach Richard Barron’s team (20-7, 10-1) reached 20 wins to set up Sunday’s 1 p.m. showdown against first-place and three-time defending conference champion Albany at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Sophie Weckstrom netted 11 points and Mikaela Gustafsson scored 10, while Bella Swan added eight points and four rebounds. They came up with two steals apiece. Liz Wood contributed three assists and three steals.
Nicole Hayner led UMass Lowell (4-20, 1-11 AE) with 15 points and Kayla Gibbs just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. The River Hawks were plagued by 29 turnovers, which led to 28 points by the Black Bears.
UMaine pulled out to an 11-0 lead behind the play of Koizar, who made a layup and a 3-pointer to give the visitors a lead that they would never relinquish.
Swan’s layup, two Gustafsson free throws and a jumper by Gustafsson put the Black Bears on top 11-0 with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
UMass Lowell responded and eventually chopped the deficit to 15-14 on a 3-pointer by Asia Mitchell-Owens at 9:41 of the second quarter, but Koizar helped UMaine build its advantage back up.
Koizar scored 13 straight points for UMaine during a span of 4 minutes, 37 seconds to make it a 28-20 game and the Bears led 35-24 at halftime.
Swan later accounted for six points early in the third quarter as UMaine extended the lead to 16 points and pulled away.