Redshirt sophomore forward Maddie Fitzpatrick hit a 3-pointer off a Lizzy Gruber pass with 1:59 remaining to break a 44-44 tie and led the University of Maine women’s basketball team to a hard-fought 53-48 victory over Brown University on the Skip Chappelle Court in the Memorial Gym on Sunday afternoon.
UMaine improved to 3-1 while Brown fell to 1-4.
Following the Fitzpatrick 3-pointer, Brown missed its next four field goal attempts and the Black Bears built a 52-44 lead to all but sew up the win on a Gruber free throw and two foul shots apiece by Fitzpatrick and Olivia Alvarez.
Cumberland’s Fitzpatrick and Gardiner senior center Gruber each posted their second double-doubles of the season.
Fitzpatrick finished with a game-high 20 points to go with 11 rebounds and a game-high five assists while Gruber had 10 points and a game-leading 13 rebounds and she also chipped in three blocked shots.
Former Cheverus High of Portland star and two-time Maine schoolgirl Gatorade Player of the Year Fitzpatrick has scored at least 19 points in each of UMaine’s last three games after scoring 14 in the season-opening win over Siena.
Sophomore guard Lala Woods produced 11 points and senior forward Kaliyah Sain registered seven points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
Junior guard Gia Powell paced Brown with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. Senior guard Olivia Young, junior forward Aima Ofunrein and freshman forward Nalah Smith had eight points apiece.
Young also has seven rebounds and two blocked shots, Ofunrein had 11 rebounds and Smith had two rebounds and two blocked shots.
Each team shot just 25 percent from the floor and UMaine was 5-for-26 beyond the 3-point arc and Brown was 5-for-24.
UMaine was 16-for-21 from the free throw line compared to Brown’s 9-for-10.
UMaine outrebounded Brown 54-49.
Both teams will be in action again on Thursday. UMaine will entertain Virginia Commomwealth at 6 while Brown will host Merrimack at 7.