ORONO, ME–Caroline Bornemann led Maine, registering a double-double (34 points and 13 rebounds) en route to a 71-58 home victory over visiting NJIT Thursday evening in America East Conference women's basketball action at Memorial Gymnasium.
Maine improves to 8-10 overall, 3-2 in the America East while the Highlanders snap a four-game win streak and suffer its first loss in the America East moving to 6-11 overall, 3-1 in the league.
Entering Thursday's game, the four-game win streak and 3-0 start in conference play was the best start for the Highlanders since the 2021-22 season.
Bornemann, who scored her 1,000 point Thursday evening, finished the game with a career-best 34 points and 13 rebounds on 14-of-25 from the field while dishing out six assists in the victory.
NJIT had three players reach double-figures paced by Alejandra Zuniga's 20 points followed by Aria Myers and Marissa Gingrich who each chipped in 10 points. Madilyn Dogs added nine points and Olivia Kulyk pulled down a team-best six rebounds.
Maine took an early 12-7 lead heading into the first media timeout and the Highlanders cut it to two, 12-10, on a three-pointer by Marissa Gingrich in the corner at the 3:52 mark. Maine scored seven straight points pushing its lead to as many as nine, 19-10, resulting in an NJIT timeout at the 2:14 mark. Graduate student Aria Myers knocked down a three-pointer at the 1:14 mark to get the game back to a six-point game, 19-13.
The Black Bears used a 10-3 run to start the second period, extending its lead to 13, the largest lead of the day, 34-21, resulting in an NJIT timeout. The Highlanders responded scoring seven consecutive points, slimming the Maine lead down to six, 34-28, behind four back-to-back points by Trinity Williams just under the three minute mark. NJIT closed the first half on a 9-2 run to close the Black Bear gap to six, 36-30. Zuniga scored nine second quarter points for NJIT.
Maine's Caroline Bornemann led all players after the first 20 minutes with 18 points while NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga paced the Highlanders with 11 points.
The Black Bears scored the first six points of the third quarter and outscored the visiting Highlanders 10-3 in the opening five minutes for a 46-33 advantage. Sparked by a three-pointer by five-time America East Rookie of the Week Olivia Kulyk at the 3:24 mark, NJIT went on a 10-4 run closing the Black Bears gap to within six, 52-46, with less than thirty seconds to play.
Midway through the fourth quarter, NJIT pulled within eight, 62-54, behind back-to-back three-pointers by graduate student Aria Myers with 6:30 remaining on the clock. The Black Bears finished the game off on a 11-4 spurt to secure the home victory 71-58.
Next Up
NJIT will conclude its two-game road swing at New Hampshire on Saturday at 6pm on ESPN+.
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