UMaine women claim America East title with win over Vermont

ORONO, Maine — The third time was a charm.

After losing their last two America East championship games at the Memorial Gym, the University of Maine women’s basketball team wasn’t going to be denied again on Friday night.

The Black Bears scored the game’s first five points and used a decisive third quarter to pull away from defending America East champion Vermont en route to a 64-48 triumph in front of an wildly-cheering crowd at the sold out Pit. .

UMaine, the league regular season champion, improved to 24-9 and will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

The Black Bears will learn their first-round opponent on Sunday night during the NCAA Tournament selection show.

UMaine’s Anne Simon (#3) puts up a shot against in second half action of the America East championship game against Vermont in The Pit on Friday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN

UMaine has won 12 of its last 13 games.

Vermont wound up 22-11.

The Black Bears put four players in double figures led by junior forward Adrianna Smith’s 16 points. Smith was limited to just 22:50 of playing time due to foul trouble. Graduate student guard Anne Simon had 15 points, sophomore guard Sarah Talon scored 12 and senior guard Olivia Rockwood contributed 10 points.

Smith also had eight rebounds and Simon had seven to go with four assists and two steals. Talon had five rebounds and three assists and Rockwood grabbed six rebounds.

Fans cheer for the UMaine Black Bears during the America East championship game against Vermont on Friday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN

Junior guard Paula Gallego came off the bench and contributed nine valuable points and two steals.

Simon was chosen the tournament;’s Most Valuable Player.

Senior forward Anna Olson’s 21 points and seven rebounds guided the Catamounts. Sophomore guard Andjela Matic had nine points and graduate student guard Emma Utterback had six points, six assists and three rebounds.

The Black Bears led by nine at the half and outscored UVM 17-8 in the third period. UVM couldn’t get closer than 12 the rest of the way.

UMaine’s Adrianna Smith (#33) puts up a shot against Vermont’s Delaney Richason (#33) in first half action of the America East championship game in The Pit on Friday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN

Smith picked up her second foul with 4:58 left in the first half and had to come out.

But the Black Bears outscored the Catamounts 14-9 over the remainder of the half to take a 34-25 lead into the intermission.

An Andjela Matic 3-pointer at the buzzer prevented the Catamounts from facing a double-digit deficit at the intermission.

Talon scored all nine of her points during that 14-9 stretch including a long 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired on UMaine’s last possession at the half.

UMaine scored the game’s first five points and led 18-11 after the first period.

The University of Maine celebrates their 64-48 victory over Vermont in the America East championship game in The Pit on Friday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN

Smith’s 10 points, Talon’s nine and six apiece by Simon and Rockwood paced UMaine in the first half.

Olson’s 13 points led the Catamounts. Utterback and Matic had four each.

Utterback picked up her second foul late in the first half.

UMaine had a 20-12 edge in rebounds including an 8-3 advantage on the offensive glass.

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