BANGOR — The University of Maine women’s basketball team (3-3) defeated visiting Boston College (4-2) in overtime by a score of 69-64 on Sunday to capture its first Thanksgiving Tournament Championship since 2006.
Sigi Koizar matched a career-high with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds to lead Maine in the thrilling victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College. Liz Wood added 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the win while Anna Heise added seven points and three rebounds. Wood was named the Tournament MVP while Koizar and Heise each earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
Maine’s defense was on point all day as it forced 22 Boston College turnovers. Maine went 25-for-61 (41 percent) from the floor and hit 10 3-pointers in the victory.
The Eagles started hot as they were able to extend an early lead out to seven with 12:46 to play in the opening half.
Maine’s offense began ticking when Christiana Gerostergiou hit a 3-pointer to jump-start a 13-0 Black Bear sprint. Koizar knotted the score with a pair of free throws before Lauren Bodine and Gerostergiou hit back-to-back 3s to give Maine a 19-13 lead with 9:26 left in the half.
With the Black Bears up by five and just under five minutes remaining in the first half, Boston College put together a 15-4 run, keyed by a trio of 3-pointers from Kelly Hughes, to put the Eagles back on top 34-28.
Wood cut the lead down to three when she cashed in from beyond the arc as Maine trailed 34-31 at the break.
The game remained tight throughout the second half with neither team leading by more than three. Boston College clung to a three point edge with 3:17 to play before Koizar slashed through the lane and hit a layup while drawing a foul. The sophomore point guard tied things with a make on the free throw with 2:24 to play in regulation.
A layup by Boston College’s Karima Gabriel with 1:26 to play put the Eagles up by a pair. The Black Bears sent Boston College to the free throw line but a violation from the Eagles gave the ball back to Maine with 29 seconds left.
Bodine’s 3-pointer was off the mark but Wood snatched the offensive board off a tip before laying the ball in to knot the score at 58-58 and ultimately send the contest into overtime.
Maine opened overtime with an 8-2 run on 3-pointers by Koizar and Bodine to take a 66-60 lead with 1:05 to play in the extra frame.
The Black Bears closed things out by going 3-for-4 down the stretch from the free throw line to seal the 69-64 victory.
Maine heads back to the road on Wednesday when it takes on Central Connecticut State at 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
N. ILLINOIS 61, MAINE 56
DEKALB, Illinois (AP) — Michael Orris scored 18 points and Darrell Bowie added 16 to help Northern Illinois beat Maine 61-56 on Sunday.
Aaric Armstead and Orris hit back-to-back 3-pointers at the 10:15 mark, sparking a 28-2 run to seal it for Northern Illinois (3-1).
Marko Pirovic hit a 3 to give Maine a 54-33 lead with 10:43 to play. The Black Bears then made 1 of 12 from the field, and committed 11 turnovers in the final 10:20.
Jordan Threloff grabbed 12 rebounds and chipped in seven points for the Huskies, who shot just 30.8 percent from the field.
Till Gloger scored to give Maine a 31-18 lead with 2:42 to play in the first half, and the Black Bears led 31-21 at the break.
Pirovic and Shaun Lawton each scored 10 points to lead Maine (0-5).
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