UMaine Women's Basketball Takes Down Missouri St., 69-65

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Sigi Koizar posted a career-high 30 points to lead the University of Maine women's basketball team to a 69-65 victory over Missouri St. on day two of the Gulf Coast Showcase. The game featured five ties and 11 lead changes.

Liz Wood added 13 points and eight rebounds while Sophie Weckstrom chipped in 12 points and five assists.

The Black Bear offense assisted on 18 of their 24 field goals with 34 points coming from inside the paint. Maine finished the contest 24-for-54 (44%) from the floor and 12-for-16 from the free throw line.

Neither team led by more than four in the opening 10-minutes with six lead changes and four ties in
the first quarter.

The Black Bears, leading by one early in the second quarter, were able to stretch their lead to six after five-straight points from Koizar.

MSU was able to chip the lead down to a pair by 3-pointers on each side of a Bear bucket from Koizar and Wood regained a five-point Maine edge.

A late layup with six-seconds left in the half by Anna Heise sent Maine to the break leading 33-26.
The Black Bears opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run as Weckstrom's three and a layup from Bella Swan gave Maine a 38-26 lead.

Missouri St. closed the third quarter with a 14-3 run before scoring the first two points of the fourth quarter to take a 51-50 lead.

An 8-0 run by the Black Bears, propelled by 3-pointers from Weckstrom and Koizar, put Maine a back on top, 62-55 with 3:19 remaining.

Missouri St. kept charging, cutting the Maine lead back down to one with 48-seconds to play.

However, the Black Bears closed the game 5-for-6 from the free throw line to secure a 69-65 victory.

Maine will play the winner of LSU and Marist tomorrow at 1 p.m. on the final day of the Gulf Coast Showcase.