VEZAIE, Maine (Interstat) — Adrianna Smith scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Maine women’s basketball team to a 67-61 victory over New Hampshire in an America East Conference game Saturday at Cross Insurance Center. The Black Bears (15-12) trailed 34-33 at halftime but used a 23-point fourth quarter to secure the win. Smith, a 5-foot-10 guard from Reston, Virginia, added five assists in 38 minutes. Eva DeChent led the Wildcats (8-19) with 26 points. New Hampshire led by as many as seven points in the third quarter before Maine’s closing surge before a crowd of 1,151.

VEZAIE, Maine (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant individual performance and a decisive final-quarter surge, the Maine Black Bears overcame a persistent challenge from the New Hampshire Wildcats to secure a 67-61 victory in an America East Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Cross Insurance Center. The contest pivoted dramatically in the fourth quarter, where Maine outscored New Hampshire 23-9 to erase a narrow deficit and claim the win. The Wildcats entered the final period holding a 52-44 lead, having controlled much of the game’s tempo, but managed only three field goals in the final ten minutes as the Black Bears tightened their defense and capitalized on critical free throws. The most important part of the game was Maine’s fourth-quarter transformation, fueled by defensive pressure and composure at the foul line. After trailing for the majority of the contest, the Black Bears opened the final period on a 15-4 run to seize a 59-56 lead they would not relinquish. During this stretch, Maine forced four New Hampshire turnovers, converting them into key points, and made 11 of 12 free throw attempts in the quarter to seal the outcome. A pivotal sequence occurred with just over a minute remaining and Maine leading 63-61; after a defensive stop, Adrianna Smith drew a foul and sank two free throws with 13 seconds left to extend the lead to four. Smith then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled again, hitting two more from the line to provide the final margin. The engine of Maine’s comeback was junior guard Adrianna Smith of Reston, Virginia, who delivered a monumental performance with 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes. Smith scored 12 of her points in the fourth quarter, including six crucial free throws in the final 14 seconds. She was instrumental throughout, keeping Maine within striking distance during the first three quarters before taking over late. New Hampshire was led by junior guard Eva DeChent of Westchester, New York, who scored a team-high 26 points and added five rebounds and three assists. The Wildcats started strong, shooting efficiently in the first quarter to forge a 22-22 tie and building their lead to as many as eight points in the third quarter behind DeChent’s scoring. Elizabeth Lavoie of Derry, New Hampshire, contributed nine points and six rebounds for the visitors. The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. New Hampshire shot a higher percentage from the field, making 24 of 51 attempts compared to Maine’s 22 of 60. The Wildcats also held a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint. However, Maine compensated with superior work at the three-point line and, decisively, at the free throw line. The Black Bears made 8 of 23 from beyond the arc while New Hampshire hit 5 of 9, and Maine converted 15 of 18 free throws to New Hampshire’s 8 of 13. Maine also won the turnover battle, committing only seven while forcing nine from New Hampshire, translating to a 13-4 advantage in points off turnovers. The Black Bears’ defense recorded seven steals, led by Smith’s three. With the win, Maine improved its season record to 15 wins and 12 losses. New Hampshire fell to 8-19. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for the Black Bears, who defeated the Wildcats 73-51 on Jan. 17 in Durham. An announced crowd of 1,151 watched the game, which saw five ties and six lead changes before Maine’s final push. The Black Bears’ victory aligned with pregame analytics, as National Statistical’s ELO system had projected Maine with a 92.8 percent probability to win. Both teams continue conference play next Thursday. Maine will host Albany, while New Hampshire returns home to face Binghamton.

Preview of America East Women’s Basketball: New Hampshire at Maine VEAZIE, Maine (Interstat) — The Maine women’s basketball team looks to solidify its position in the America East standings when it hosts rival New Hampshire on Saturday at Cross Insurance Center. The Black Bears (14-12, 8-3 America East) enter the contest having won four of their last five conference games, despite a 63-42 road loss at NJIT in their most recent outing on Feb. 14. Maine currently sits in third place in the league. New Hampshire (8-18, 4-7) seeks to end a four-game skid and avenge a 73-51 home loss to Maine from Jan. 17. The Wildcats are coming off a narrow 57-54 defeat to Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top performers. Maine is led by forward Adrianna Smith, who is averaging a double-double. She scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the loss to NJIT and had a 29-point, 11-rebound performance in a win over Bryant on Feb. 7. New Hampshire will rely on guard Eva DeChent, who is coming off a season-high 29-point effort in 40 minutes against UMass Lowell. Over her last seven games, DeChent is averaging 16.4 points. Maine has dominated the recent series, winning the last five meetings. The Black Bears’ defense, which allows an average of 57.2 points in conference play, will be tested by DeChent’s scoring ability. New Hampshire has struggled offensively during its losing streak, failing to reach 55 points in any of the four games. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Maine will look to protect its home court, where it is 8-3 this season, while New Hampshire aims to improve its 3-10 road record. Following this matchup, Maine will host Albany on Feb. 26, while New Hampshire returns home to face Binghamton on the same date.