UMaine Women's Basketball and Soccer Teams Face Tough Losses

The University of Maine women's basketball team faced a challenging defeat against Virginia Commonwealth University, losing 81-77 in a closely contested game on Friday night. According to the Bangor Daily News, the Black Bears initially took a 12-point lead early in the second quarter, thanks to a layup from Kaliyah Sain, who had a career night with 26 points and 10 rebounds, marking her first double-double of the season. Despite holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Black Bears could not maintain their advantage as VCU surged ahead, ultimately sealing the victory. Adrianna Smith contributed significantly with 22 points, while Asta Blauenfeldt added 17 points. The loss leaves the Black Bears at 0-3 for the season, with their next game scheduled against Stonehill College on November 17.

Meanwhile, the UMaine women's soccer team ended its NCAA tournament run with a 2-0 loss to the University of Central Florida on Friday night. As reported by the Bangor Daily News, this defeat marked the third consecutive first-round exit for the Black Bears in the NCAA tournament. Coach Scott Atherley acknowledged the tough competition, stating that UCF would be the best team his squad had faced all season. The Black Bears had a challenging season filled with injuries but managed to rally for a spirited run in the America East Tournament, ultimately winning the title in a thrilling penalty shootout against Vermont.

In the match against UCF, forward Rajanah Reed opened the scoring in the 20th minute, and Hannah Boughton added a second goal about 20 minutes into the second half. Despite several attempts, including a close shot by Gillian Rovers that was saved by UCF goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson, the Black Bears were unable to find the back of the net. UMaine’s goalie, Elena Barenberg, made three saves throughout the match, but it was not enough to overcome the Knights' offensive pressure. The Black Bears concluded their season with a record of 6-8-4. Central Florida, now with a record of 12-3-5, will advance to play No. 1 Duke in the next round of the tournament.

Both teams' recent performances underscore the competitive nature of their respective tournaments and highlight areas for improvement as they move forward. The women's basketball team will look to bounce back against Stonehill, while the soccer team will reflect on its season and the challenges that lay ahead as they prepare for future competitions.