DeChent Scores Team-High 26 Points in 67-61 Loss at Maine

Saturday, February 21

Orono, Maine

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

8-19,2-12America East

Maine

15-12,10-4America East

New Hampshire

Maine

Photo by: Ryan Moran

2/21/2026 7:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ORONO, Maine – Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) scored a team-high 26 points but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team was edged 67-61 by the University of Maine in Saturday afternoon's Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle at Memorial Gym.

DeChent became the 22^nd player in UNH program history to score 1,000 points with her 14^th point of the game, which was scored on a layup at 2:59 of the second quarter. She has 1,058 career points, including 1,012 in 57 games as a Wildcat.

Grad student guard Kenzie Matulonis (Raynham, Mass.) and junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) both finished with seven points, four rebounds and four assists.

Maine was led by Adrianna Smith's double-double of 35 points and 14 rebounds.

UNH moves to 8-19 overall and 2-12 in America East. Maine improves to 15-12, 10-4.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Feb. 26 (6pm) vs. Binghamton University for the conference's Spread Respect initiative.
The Wildcats end the regular season Feb. 28 (1pm) with a Senior Day game vs. UAlbany.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets online for any UNH home game -- including an upgrade to the Lundholm Loft, where you can enjoy elevated drinks and eats in elevated seats -- or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST QUARTER

The teams traded 3-pointers early in the game with makes by Elizabeth Lavoie (Hampstead, N.H.), DeChent and Matulonis giving UNH an 11-8 lead at 7:06.
Maine went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-11 lead at 4:00.
The Wildcats went back in front, 17-16, on consecutive baskets by Camryn Fauria (North Attleborough, Mass.) at 3:49 and 3:24 and two free throws by DeChent at 2:34.
DeChent's jumper with 32 seconds on the clock tied the score, 22-22.

SECOND QUARTER

UNH took its first lead of the second quarter, 30-28, on a layup by DeChent at 5:34.
Cavanaugh's jumper from the right elbow at 4:16 and DeChent's milestone points at 2:59 gave the 'Cats a 34-30 lead.
The Wildcats led 34-33 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

Maine inched ahead, 42-38, at 6:08.
Trailing 44-41, UNH ended the quarter on an 11-0 run to build a 52-44 lead through 30 minutes.
Lavoie and DeChent made consecutive layups to put UNH back in front, 45-44, at 4:12.
The spurt continued with an inside basket by Lucia Melero Sabat (Barcelona, Spain)l layup by DeChent and then a three-point play by UNH's top scorer.

FOURTH QUARTER

Maine went on a 15-0 run to transform a nine-point deficit (54-45 at 8:49) into a six-point lead (60-54 at 3:30).
The Wildcats went 1-for-2 at the foul line on consecutive possessions to close within 60-56, and then DeChent made her second 3-pointer of the game to trim the deficit to 60-59 with 57 seconds on the clock.
The Black Bears answered with a 3-pointer to reestablish a four-point advantage, 63-59, with 27 seconds to play.
Out of a UNH timeout, Cavanaugh made another jumper at the right elbow to make it a two-point game, 63-61, with 14 seconds left.
With no time coming off the clock, Smith made two free throws to push the margin to four points.
Following a UNH turnover with two seconds on the clock, Smith hit two more foul shots to close the scoring.

UNH NOTEBOOK

DeChent has scored 20+ points 10 times this season, including each of the last two games. She has netted 20+ points 20 times in her career.
In two games this week, DeChent averaged 27.5 points on a .512 field goal percentage. Her other stats included 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in playing 79:55 of a possible 80 minutes.
Lavoie finished with nine points and six rebounds.
Matulonis' four rebounds matched a season high.

 
GAME NOTEBOOK

There were 13 ties and seven lead changes in the game.
Both teams held its largest lead in the fourth quarter – nine points by UNH and six by Maine.
The Black Bears finished with a 38-31 rebounding advantage that included 11-2 on the offensive glass; and with that, a 6-0 edge in second-chance points.
UNH outscored Maine 28-20 in the paint.
The Black Bears made 15 of 18 free throws; the 'Cats went 8 of 13.