BANGOR — The early focus for this University of Maine women’s basketball team is quickly getting its talented freshmen into the flow of the college game.
But don’t forget the one starting senior.
When the Black Bears find themselves needing a clutch play, they still turn to Sigi Koizar. Even the opponents know it.
“She is their go-to player,” Dartmouth forward Andi Norman said. “She makes things happen. Late in the game, that’s who they’re getting the ball to.”
Koizar, a 5-foot-8
guard, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, including her team’s last six, to lead the Black Bears to a 60-55 win over Dartmouth before a crowd of 1,538 at Cross Insurance Center.
The Big Green trailed by as much as 16, but closed to within two points with 1:24 left on an inside drive by center Olivia Smith, a 6-2 junior from Yarmouth.
Koizar came down the floor, saw a seam and drove through traffic for a layup. Dartmouth never got closer.
Maine has won back-to-back games for the first time and is 5-5, while the Big Green dropped to 3-5.
The Black Bears are using the nonconference portion of the schedule to blend in seven freshmen, three of whom start, and three others who are the first players off the bench.
“I feel like a team mom sometimes, so proud of my little freshmen,” Koizar said, drawing a laugh from freshman teammate Laia Sole.
“I remember when we started playing, there was a lot of stuff we didn’t know. We were quitting on plays a lot. Now we’re a lot better at playing through mistakes, and also making less mistakes.
“Laia has really stepped up out of the freshmen group, and having her as a leading scorer is very important for us, especially to have that post presence.”
Sole, 6-foot-2, equaled Koizar with 15 points. She made 6 of 7 shots, despite receiving plenty of attention from the Dartmouth defense. Smith picked up two fouls in the first quarter trying to defend Sole.
“We didn’t want her to have so many touches,” Dartmouth Coach Belle Koclanes said. “We tried to front her, but again she was just stronger … and she got our veteran post player in foul trouble.”
Another Maine freshman, guard Blanca Millan scored 14 points, making 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
Dartmouth went crazy with 3-pointers – 11 for 26 – for a couple reasons. The Big Green have shooters, led by Norman (26 points, 7 of 13 3s), and Maine made it tough to score inside.
“Every day we are getting better (on defense),” Sole said. “But we have to work because we don’t have the chemistry we need to.”
Maine also outrebounded Dartmouth 34-27, limiting the Big Green to four rebounds on the offensive end.
Maine took a 33-22 halftime lead and extended it to 46-30 in the third quarter.
But Dartmouth adjusted, making extra passes to find an open shooter. The Big Green closed to 48-41 by the end of the third quarter.
“We kept chipping away,” Norman said.
With Dartmouth trailing 54-47, Smith drove inside and then kicked the ball out to Norman for a 3-pointer. Smith followed with a driving layup.
Then the Black Bears looked to Koizar.
“Everyone in the program knows that at the end of the game, we’re going to get the ball to Sigi,” said Maine assistant coach Edniesha Curry, subbing for ailing head coach Richard Barron at the postgame press conference (Barron coached the game).
After Koizar’s layup, Maine forced a turnover on a shot-clock violation. Koizar iced the victory with four free throws.
NOTES: Dartmouth dined Friday night in Yarmouth with Smith’s family. … Smith, who played at McAuley High, is a starter for the first time, averaging seven points and five rebounds. “She has incredible potential and incredible talent. We’re still trying to pull it all out of her,” Koclanes said. … Maine plays its next six games on the road, returning to Bangor Jan. 7.
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