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Women's Basketball Falls to Central Connecticut State
Nov. 20, 2008 NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The University of Maine women's basketball team dropped a tough 65-57 decision to Central Connecticut State on Thursday night at Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, Conn. The Black Bears fell to 0-2 on the young season, while CCSU improved to 1-2. Kristin Baker led Maine with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the second double-double of Baker's career, as she also turned the trick in last year's regular season finale versus New Hampshire. Baker also added seven assists and two steals to go along with her double-double. Tanna Ross came off the bench to net a team-high 13 points, while Brittany Boser chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. It marked the second time in as many games this season a Black Bear blocked three shots in a game. Freshman center Samantha Baranowski chipped in with nine points for the second-straight game. Shontice Simmons paced Central Connecticut State with a game-high 15 points, while also handing out five assists. The first half was exciting as it saw four ties and 10 lead changes. Maine and CCSU combined to knock down 14 three-pointers in the half, including nine from the Blue Devils and five from the Black Bears. Central Connecticut State scored the game's first basket, but the Black Bears responded with a 9-0 run to open up a 9-2 lead six minutes into the contest. Both teams exchanged baskets for the next several minutes before Emily Rose's three-pointer put CCSU back on top at 14-12 with 10:48 to go in the half.
The teams swapped the lead the rest of the half. The Black Bears grabbed a slim 33-32 edge with 3:07 remaining in the half on a layup by Baranowski. However, CCSU reeled off the next six points to open up a 38-33 lead in building a 40-37 advantage at halftime.
Ross led Maine with 11 points - including going 2-for-3 from behind the arc -- in the opening 20 minutes, while Baranowski scored all nine of her points in the opening frame. Baker scored the first five points of the second half on a layup and three-pointer to push the Black Bears back out in front at 42-40 with 17:56 to go. The Blue Devils scored the next basket to knot the score at 42-42, but the Black Bears responded with six-straight points - keyed by four points from Boser - to take a 48-42 lead. CCSU's hot three-point shooting in the first half cooled off considerably in the early portion of the second half as the Blue Devils missed their first eight treys. Maine led for a good portion of the second half, but CCSU grabbed a 56-55 lead with 3:38 remaining on a pair of free throws from Simmons. Simmons then extended CCSU's lead to 59-55 at the 2:11 mark with the team's first three of the second half. The Blue Devils held their lead the rest of the way in earning the win. Maine returns to action on Sunday when the Black Bears play host Massachusetts at 2 p.m., at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine. |
