For the second straight game, the University of Maine women’s basketball team used a strong second half to earn an America East victory on Saturday afternoon on the Skip Chappelle Court in the Memorial Gym in Orono.
The Black Bears outscored the New Jersey Institute of Technology 33-16 over the final 14:18 of the contest to earn an 86-67 triumph.
UMaine had outscored the University of Maryland Baltimore County 29-18 in the second half of Thursday’s game en route to a 58-43 victory.
UMaine was leading 53-51 with 4:18 remaining in the third period but closed out the quarter on a 13-8 run and then outscored the Highlanders 20-8 in the fourth quarter.
The Black Bears are now 8-9 overall and 3-1 in the conference while NJIT fell to 11-6 and 2.2.
The 86 points are a season-high and the most scored by the Black Bears since an 87-64 win over Bryant on Jan. 4, 2025.
Fifth-year senior forward Adrianna Smith led the way with 30 points,13 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots, which were all game-highs. She also had two steals.
It is the ninth time she has scored at least 21 points in a game this season including four times over the last five contests.
She is averaging 28.25 points over her last four games and the 12th straight game in which she has reached double figures in points.
Senior guard Sarah Talon had 19 points and six assists, both season-highs, and she also hauled in seven rebounds. It was her third consecutive game in which she has scored in double figures.
Senior guard Asta Blauenfeldt produced 18 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
She had a game-high four 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Lala Woods scored seven points, junior forward Lizzy Gruber contributed six points and four rebounds and freshman guard Olivia Alvarez had a game-high five steals to go with five assists and four points. She also had two rebounds.
Senior guard Alejandra Zuniga paced the Highlanders with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Marissa Gingrich had 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Sophomore guard Olivia Kulyk had 11 points, five assists and two blocked shots and sophomore guard Allison Cannon had seven points, three assists and two steals.
The Black Bears took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter and scored 18 of the next 22 points to pull away with Smith notching six points and Talon tallying five.
UMaine shot 47.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent beyond the 3-point arc while NJIT shot 45.8 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
UMaine outrebounded NJIT 42-31 and forced 15 turnovers while forcing just eight UMaine turnovers.
The Black Bears outscored NJIT in the paint, 50-34.
UMaine will host defending champ and preseason favorite Vermont at 6 p.m. Thursday while NJIT will entertain UMass Lowell at 11 a.m. Thursday.