The University of Maine women’s basketball team secured a place in the Air Force Reserve America East Championship game with a 60-56 victory over No. 3 Binghamton on Mar. 9.
This win means the Black Bears will face No. 1 Vermont in the title game scheduled for Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. Tickets for the championship are available through UVMAthletics.com/tickets.
Adrianna Smith led Maine with a standout performance, scoring a game-high 26 points and collecting 12 rebounds, marking her tenth consecutive double-double and nineteenth of the season. Sarah Talon also contributed significantly, extending her streak of double-figure scoring games to five with 17 points and six rebounds.
Maine shot 35.7 percent from the field and made 16 out of 20 free throws during the semifinal matchup. The team continued its strong ball control, recording only eight turnovers while forcing Binghamton into nineteen turnovers.
The Black Bears built momentum early, finishing the first quarter tied at fifteen before pulling ahead in the second quarter with a key run that gave them their largest lead of the half at six points. In the third quarter, Maine extended its advantage to as much as eleven points before Binghamton narrowed the gap late in the game. Despite pressure from Binghamton in the fourth quarter, Maine maintained composure at the free throw line to secure their spot in the championship round.
The upcoming title game against Vermont will determine who claims this year’s America East crown.
