The University of Maine women’s basketball team scored only two points in the first quarter and just eight in the first half as the University of Vermont’s Catamounts thrashed the Black Bears 65-34 at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday afternoon.
Vermont improved to 15-11 overall and 10-2 in America East play and avenged a 45-39 loss in Orono on Feb. 1.
UMaine had won the last four meetings, including the America East title game last season.
UMaine fell to 12-13 and 7-5, respectively.
It was Vermont’s third straight win and UMaine’s third consecutive loss.
The Black Bears are now just 2-5 in conference road games while Vermont has won all six of its conference home games.
The Black Bears went just 1-for-11 from the floor in the first quarter while the Catamounts went a blistering 10-for-11 as UVM built a 21-2 lead.
UMaine’s shooting woes continued in the second period as the Black Bears made just two of 12 field goal attempts while Vermont went 5-for-12 in expanding the lead to 31-8 at the intermission.
UMaine missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts in the first half.
Anna Olson poured in a game-high 19 points for UVM and she also grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists.
Bella Vito had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists along with a game-high four steals. Nikola Priede produced 11 points and four rebounds, Keira Hanson contributed nine points and four rebounds and Catherine Gilwee had six points and a game-high five assists..
Caroline Bornemann’s seven points and game-high 11 rebounds paced the Black Bears. Sera Hodgson and Jaycie Christopher had six points each and Paula Gallego chipped in with five points and six rebounds.
UVM outscored UMaine 44-14 in the paint and 22-3 in points off turnovers.
UVM shot 60 percent from the floor compared with UMains’s 26.1 percent.
UMaine will begin a three-game homestand by hosting America East co-leader Albany (20-5, 10-2) on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Vermont will travel to Bryant (13-13, 6-7) on Thursday.
