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Women's Basketball Takes Down Boston U. 78-73 Saturday Night
Jan. 20, 2007
ORONO, Maine - Bracey Barker poured in a game-high 22 points, while Ashley Underwood netted 20 to pace the University of Maine women's basketball team to a 78-73 win over Boston University Saturday night at Alfond Arena. Maine snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in America East. It was the Black Bears' sixth-straight win at home over BU. The Terriers fell to 9-9 and 1-4 in the league. The senior duo of Underwood and Barker now stand four and five points shy of 1,000 for their career, respectively. The Black Bears will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Baltimore, Md., to face UMBC in a 12 p.m. tip at the RAC. The game can be heard on the radio at WZON-AM 620 in Bangor and worldwide on the internet at www.zoneradio.com(.) Barker also ripped down eight rebounds, including going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Maine as a team went 29-for-32 at the free throw line. The Black Bears also out-rebounded the Terriers by a 33-27 count. Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa came off the bench to chip in 14 points, while handing out three assists. The 20 points by Underwood marked the 50th double-figure scoring game of her career. It's the second time this season a Black Bear topped the 50-game mark for career double-figure scoring contests. Barker accomplished the feat earlier this season in Maine's 57-52 win at Albany back on Jan. 7, when she netted a game-high 20 points. Both Baker and Underwood have scored in double-figures in all six of Maine's America East contests this season.
The game was played in front of 1,996 enthusiastic fans who came out to support the Black Bears on "Pink Out" Night, which was designed as a way for Maine to show its support in the fight against breast cancer. The Black Bears wore pink t-shirts during pre-game warm-ups and on the bench during the game. Cheerleaders tossed similar t-shirts out into the crowd for each three-pointer made by Maine. The Black Bears obliged by knocking five triples, including three from Underwood.
Maine raced out to a 33-24 halftime advantage of nine Underwood points in the first half. The game was knotted at 20-20 with 4:52 remaining in the first half, but the Black Bears went on a 13-4 run the rest of the way to take the nine-point advantage into the intermission. Maine led by as many as 13 in the second half, but BU didn't fold and battled back. The Terriers cut the deficit to one at 66-65 with 2:48 remaining on a Cheri Raffo jumper. However, the Black Bears responded and scored eight of the next 10 points to go back up by a count of 74-67 with :42 left to go. Amanda Tewksbury kick-started the surge with a pair of free throws, while Barker followed with back-to-back jumpers. Katie Whittier capped the burst with back-to-back free throws. Boston U. followed with a three to make it 74-70 with :37 left. Underwood made 1-of-2 free throws after being fouled to make it 75-70, but the Terriers again drained a three to cut the deficit to two. However, Maine converted three free throws in the final seconds, including two from Kris Younan and one from Tewksbury to seal the win. |
