University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
17-11, 9-7AE
University of Maine
22-7, 14-2AE
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAINE | 21 | 26 | 47 |
| New Hampshire | 28 | 33 | 61 |
Women's Basketball Stymies Maine on Senior Day, 61-47
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. -- Freshman center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted her fifth double-double of the season with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds to power the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Sunday's 61-47 Senior Day win over the University of Maine at Lundholm Gymnasium.
Before the start of the game, four seniors were honored on the court in a pregame ceremony. Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany), Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio), Kaylee Kilpatrick (Saint John, New Brunswick) and Madison Lopez (Albuquerque, N.M.) were recognized for their dedication and performance to the UNH women's basketball program.
New Hampshire ups its overall record to 17-11 and 9-7 in America East play. Maine's season-high 14 game-winning streak is snapped, falling to 22-7, 14-2. UNH is the first opponent to inflict 60 points on Maine this season since Dec. 19 when the University of North Carolina prevailed in a 65-36 decision.
Coming off the bench, Pogue knocked down 8 of 13 shots from the field and made all four of her free throw attempts. Junior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) registered 18 points in the win. She drilled 6 of 10 shots from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) notched eight points and five assists. Kilpatrick posted seven rebounds, four blocks and four points.
Junior forward Liz Wood paced the Black Bears in the scoring column with 19 points. She shot 9 of 18 from the floor and tallied two assists in the loss. Sophomore guard Sigi Koizar poured in 13 points on 6 of 14 shooting while corralling five rebounds.
The Wildcats shot 24 of 26 (52.2 percent) from the field, including 13 of 22 (59.1 percent) in the second half. The Black Bears were held to 21 of 60 (35.0 percent) shooting and 5 of 22 (22.7 percent) from behind the 3-point line. Additionally, New Hampshire registered 10 of 13 free throws (76.9 percent) while Maine missed its lone attempt. UNH outscored Maine in the paint with a 36-28 edge. UNH owned the advantage in bench scoring (33-12), second chance points (11-3) and rebounds (36-29).
Maine bolted out of the gate with a 6-0 lead as junior guard Sophie Weckstrom and Koizar drilled back-to-back 3-pointers. UNH was able to get onto the scoreboard as Anderson and Gaston knocked down consecutive jumpers to trail 6-4 with 13:32 to go in the first half.
Junior guard Chantel Charles drained the third triple for Maine in the game, but Anderson retaliated with a trey of her own. The two sides traded baskets as the score rose to 15-13 in favor of the visitors with 9:00 remaining in the opening stanza.
The 'Cats managed to knot the score at 15 apiece as freshman guard Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) notched a second-chance layup. UNH would proceed to even the score at the 17, 19 and 21 marks entering the expiring moments of the first frame.
Pogue sparked a 7-0 run to close out the first half for the Wildcats. The four-time America East Rookie of the Week managed to get to the free throw line and sink both attempts. After a Maine turnover, Simpson swished in a triple. The Black Bears conceded possession again and Pogue drew a foul in the paint. The freshman potted both of her attempts as UNH entered the locker rooms with a 28-21 edge.
New Hampshire bolstered its lead to nine points as Belanger netted both of her attempts to begin the second half. The two sides traded scores as the score rose to 36-27 with 14:53 left on the clock.
Wood sparked a 7-2 scoring flurry for the Black Bears with a jumper at the 14:31 mark. After a missed UNH shot, Mikaela Gustafsson knocked down a field goal to bring the Wildcats' lead down to five points. Kilpatrick poured in a layup, but a triple by Wood narrowed New Hampshire's down to four at 38-34 with 13:10 remaining in regulation.
The Wildcats would not allow the Black Bears to make it a one-score game as the home squad engineered an 11-4 surge. Pogue started the run with a layup. After a Wood field goal, Gaston retaliated with a score of her own. Belanger joined the UNH scoring barrage with a pair of made free throws. Koizar tried to slow down the run with a made layup, but New Hampshire punctuated its run with an Anderson trey and a Belanger jumper to lead 49-38 with 8:24 left on the clock.
Maine brought New Hampshire's advantage down to single digits as Charles converted a 3-pointer. However, the Wildcat-scoring tandem of Belanger and Pogue quickly responded. UNH was able to preserve its double-digit advantage into the 3:40 mark with a 55-45 lead.
New Hampshire's defense clamped down in the waning moments of regulation, allowing just two points to clinch the 61-47 win to close out the regular season.
The Wildcats will enter the quarterfinal round of the America East Championships as the four-seed. New Hampshire is set to clash with fifth-seeded University of Hartford. The two squads will tip off Saturday March 7 (2:15 p.m.) at the Events Center on the campus of Binghamton University. The game will be available on ESPN3 and the Wildcat Sports Radio Network. For tickets, visit AmericaEast.com.
Check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH women's basketball team, follow the 'Cats on Twitter (@UNHHoops) and Instagram (@unhwbb).
