Hill Beats Buzzer, Stampede in Claws 97-94 Win

PORTLAND, ME – Lawrence Hill was the hero with the game-deciding 3-point shot as time expired as the Maine Red Claws (9-16) downed the visiting Idaho Stampede (8-16), 97-94. The Adidas Player of the Game had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the night as the Red Claws picked up their second straight victory.

Maine trailed 72-80 heading into the third quarter, but battled back to keep the game close in the final stanza. Morris Almond scored ten of his 21 points in the fourth to lead the night’s scoring. Almond added 10 rebounds for a double-double on the night, his second in four games played with Maine this season. Four other Maine players scored double digits with Xavier Silas (16 pts), Jerome Randle (16 pts), Lawrence Hill (14 pts) and Dominic Calegari (13 points) leading the way as Maine squeaked out the Red Claw’s victory.

For Idaho, Terrico White and Antoine Walker led the Stampede’s offense with 20 and 19 points respectively, while Mikki Moore chipped in 11 rebounds. Former Red Claw Tony Bobbitt continued his tradition of strong play against his former team, contributing 16 points in the losing effort.

The entire Red Claws team will be at the Maine Mall tomorrow afternoon from 3 PM – 5 PM for a team autograph signing to help launch Make-A-Wish of Maine’s Valentine’s program. The Red Claws will be available to sign autographs and take photos with fans and will also help Make-A-Wish make Valentine’s that will be delivered to Veterans Homes on Valentine’s Day. The team will return to action on Sunday with a 5 PM contest vs. the visiting Reno Bighorns.

The Stampede will be idle until Friday, February 3 when they host the first of back-to-back home games against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.


--Maine Red Claws

Black Bears Get Victory Over Vermont

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team (4-14, 1-4 America East) used the combination of free throw shooting and work inside the paint, scoring 66 of its 70 total points from either the free throw line or inside the bucket, to pick up its first America East win of the season, 70-60 over the visiting Vermont Catamounts (8-11, 2-4 America East) on Monday evening. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) was named Maine's America East Player of the Game as she recorded a career-high 18 points while going 10-for-14 from the free throw line, to lead the Maine attack.

Three other Black Bears tallied double-figures as Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) netted 11 points and Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) and Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) each notched 10 points.

Former York standout Niki Taylor was named Vermont's America East Player of the Game as she totaled 17 points and nine rebounds.

The Black Bears did a solid job getting the ball inside in the opening half as they scored 24 of their 35 points from inside the paint, coupled with a 7-for-10 performance from the free throw line and a 12-0 run over the final 6:24 that gave them a 35-23 lead at the half. Maine pieced together a three minute 6-0 midway through the first half to gain a six point advantage. Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, N.Y.) got the offense moving as she found Roberts for a bucket before working the ball around to Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) for two more. Roberts then cashed in on an offensive put back to give the Black Bears a 12-6 advantage.

The Catamounts answered, piecing together a run of its own, leading to a three-pointer by Kristine Lalonde that knotted things up with 7:35 to play.

Maine responded with a 12-0 run over the remaining 6:24, fueled by solid inside play and nice work by the guards feeding the posts, as the Black Bears found themselves up 35-23 heading into the locker room. Knight started the extended run for Maine when fellow freshman Anderson hit her with a pass that Knight turned into a layup. After Baranowski knocked down back-to-back jumpers, Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) and Baranowski each tallied free throws to bring the Maine lead to eight. The run continued as Roberts worked her way inside for a layup before a defensive rebound by Knight led to a Williams bucket on the opposite end, completing the 12-0 run and sending the Black Bears into the half with a 35-23 advantage.

Vermont continued to work, chipping away at the Maine lead until a pair of free throws by Shavonne White cut the Black Bear advantage down to nine at 47-38 with 7:17 remaining in the second half. The Black Bears stood strong, running off an 8-2 run of their own, fueled by buckets by Walczak and Williams, to take their biggest lead of the contest at 15 with just 4:52 to play in the final half.

The Catamounts kept charging, cutting the lead down to eight at one point but the Black Bears were clutch at the free throw line, hitting 16 of 18 shots from the charity stripe, eight each from Anderson and Baranowski, in the final two minutes to lock down the win, 70-60.

Former Deering star and 2011 Miss Maine Basketball Kayla Burchill scored 3 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in 18 minutes of action.

Maine now takes to the road for a pair of America East contest as they will battle Hartford on Thursday evening before meeting up with Stony Brook on Saturday at 2 p.m.


--University of Maine Athletic Department

Saints Sink Black Bears 78-51

ORONO, Maine -- Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) tallied a career-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds as she was named Maine's America East Player of the Game while Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) added 10 points and five rebounds but the Siena Saints shot 49.2% from the field en route to a 78-51 victory over the Black Bears. The loss slips Maine back to 3-10 while the Saints improved to 2-7.

Siena had four players in double-figures as Lily Grenci led the way with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds while Cristina Centeno added 14 points and six assists.

The game started off on a rapid pace that included eight lead changes in the opening 12 minutes. The Black Bears took a five points lead early as it executed its offense well on back-to-back possessions leading to back-to-back baskets by Walczak. The two teams would battle back and forth for the next six minutes, trading hoops and leads, until Siena went on a 5-0 run to take a four point lead on a three pointer by Kanika Cummings.

Maine answered the run with a fastbreak lay-in by Baranowski after Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) controlled a defensive board and rushed down the court, hitting the senior forward underneath the hoop in transition for the bucket. With the Black Bears down by two and 8:34 remaining in the opening half, Maine forced a Siena turnover and capitalized as Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) hit Anderson with a nice pass and Anderson was able to knock down the three-ball to once again give Maine a one point edge, 22-21.

However, Siena would respond and take a four point lead and end the half on a 15-4 run to take a 43-28 lead into the half.

Anderson, Baranowski and Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) all tallied six points to lead Maine's attack in the first half while Maja Gerlyng led all scorers with 10 first half points.

Siena stretched its lead to 20 with 4:37 gone in the second half before Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) found Walczak with a nice pass that resulted in two points and a foul. Maine worked the ball down low to Corinne Wellington (Rochester, N.Y.) on its next possession as the junior forward drew a foul and hit a free throw to cut the lead to 17.

The Saints answered with a 7-2 run over the next 3:14 to take a 59-35 lead with 11:36 remaining in the second half.

Maine would not go away quietly as a pair of free throws each by Knight and Baranowski chipped the lead back down to 21 with 6:20 to play.

Siena would take its biggest lead of the game as it broke out a 10-0 run, including seven points from Ida Krough, to take its biggest lead of the game 76-45 in the waning minutes of the contest.

Maine would continue to chip away as the lead would be cut to 26 on a three-pointer by Rachele Burns (Gorham, Maine) but the Saints eventually held on to take the game 78-51.

The Black Bears will now open America East Conference play as they will travel to take on Binghamton in the two teams' league opener on Monday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m.

--Information Courtesy of the University of Maine Athletic Department

Former Celtic Davis Joins Red Claws

PORTLAND, ME - The Maine Red Claws today announced that they have claimed NBA veteran and former Boston Celtic Ricky Davis from the Available Player Pool.



Davis, 32, has played in 736 NBA games in a career that began in 1999 as the first round selection (21st overall) of the Charlotte Hornets. His 12-year NBA career saw him play for six NBA teams, including three seasons with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics traded the high-scoring swingman on January 26, 2006 to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, Justin Reed, a 2006 2nd round draft pick (Craig Smith) and a 2008 2nd round draft pick (Nikola Pekovic) for Dwayne Jones, Michael Olowokandi, Wally Szczerbiak and a 2009 1st round draft pick (Jonny Flynn). He scored a career-high 20.6 ppg in 2002-03 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Davis last played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009-10 and has spent the last season and a half playing abroad in France, Turkey and China. Once considered a one-dimensional yet prolific player, Davis has developed into a formidable rebounder and steady mid-range jump shooter over the years.



“Ricky Davis brings a veteran element to the Red Claws and will undoubtedly become an instant fan favorite at the Portland Expo where many of our fans will remember him from his days with the Celtics,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “Ricky is someone who knows what it takes to get to and stay in the NBA and is someone who is hungry to return there. We are all excited to welcome him to Maine.”



Davis is expected to join the team in Canton, Ohio where they will face the Canton Charge tomorrow night in the second game on a two-game set. He will make his Maine debut this weekend as the Red Claws host the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Saturday, December 31 at 1 PM and Sunday, January 1 at 5 PM.


--Information Provided by the Maine Red Claws

Black Bears Bitten By Bucs, 78-63

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Black Bears would open its finale at the Gator Holiday Classic with a solid opening of the first half before falling behind after Charleston Southern staged one of its few big runs of the game. Maine was unable to close the gap in the second half as it dropped the contest to the Buccaneers 78-63. Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.) tallied a career-high 12 points while pulling down eight rebounds to lead the Black Bears. Maine falls to 3-9 overall while Charleston Southern improves to 7-4.

Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine) was named to the Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament team as she was solid in all aspects of the game with five points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the finale while playing a career-high 38 minutes. Ashleigh Roberts (Wilmington, Del.) also totaled double-figures for the Black Bears for the 27th time in her career with 10 points.

Rachelle Coward led the Buccaneer attack as she shot 10-for-17 from the field, including knocking down six three-pointers for a 30 point performance with eight boards.

A 7-0 run for the Buccaneers midway through the first half erased an early Black Bear lead, giving Charleston Southern a 17-9 advantage after a deep three and a fastbreak layup. Maine answered the early threat with a 6-2 run of its own. The Black Bears were patient in its offense, working to find the open player as Knight beat the press by finding Maner underneath the basket with a baseball pass from midcourt. Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) knocked down a short jumper before assisting on Maine's next hoop by finding Danielle Walczak (Lee, N.H.) on a roll to the hoop for two, bringing the Black Bears within four at 17-13.

Another 7-1 run by the Buccaneers was haulted by a three point shot by Brittany Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) off a nice kick from the paint by Knight. Maine continued its run as Walczak ripped down an offensive board and went right back up strong, bringing Maine back within five, 24-19.

The Buccaneers staged a 14-6 run to end the half, powered by a pair of treys by Coward, to take a 38-25 advantage into halftime.

Walczak paced the Black Bears' first half attack with five points and five rebounds while Coward tallied 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting with five rebounds.

Charleston Southern built on its lead in the early going of the second half as its lead would reach 20 on a deep three by Coward.

Maine continued to chip away at the Buccaneer lead as it started pressuring the ball full court which turned into back-to-back buckets for Maner, putting the junior in double figures for the second time this season with 10. After a three by Coward, Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) knocked down a jumper off the left elbow before Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) matched the jumper with one of her own before hitting a pair of free throws on Maine's next possession, cutting the lead to 62-48 with 7:48 to play.

The teams would trade hoops the rest of the way as the Black Bears were just unable to stage another run to close the gap, dropping their finale at the Gator Holiday Classic, 78-63.

Maine will return to action following the Holiday break as it will return to Orono to host Siena at Alfond Arena on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m.


--Courtesy of University of Maine Athletic Department

UMaine Women Downed By Duquesne 76-38

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Maine women's basketball team ran into a Duquesne team made up of fierce defensive pressure and a solid offensive attack as the Dukes defeated Maine 76-38 in the opening round of the Gator Holiday Classic. Courtney Anderson (Greene, Maine) paced Maine with six points, three rebounds and three assists as the Black Bears slip back to 3-8 overall while Duquesne improves to 10-1.

The Dukes used 34 points off turnovers and 14 fastbreak scores to build their runs as Alex Gensler led the Duquesne attack with 15 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field. Duquesne had four scorers in double-figures. The Maine defense recorded seven steals paced by Rebecca Knight's (Alfred, Maine) solid game of six points, three rebounds, two steals and a block.

The Dukes broke out on an 8-0 run midway through the first half to give them a 15 point edge, 25-10, on back-to-back layups by Carly Vendemia. The Black Bears were quick to answer as Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, N.Y.) dribbled through the Duquesne defense, working her way into the paint and laying the ball up and off glass while drawing the foul. After Mattice knocked down the free throw, the Black Bears capitalized on their next possession as Knight made a nice move on the block, hitting the turn around lay-in off an offensive rebound as Maine worked its way back within 10, 25-15.

Another run by the Dukes would see their lead increase to 19 before Maine staged a 4-0 run to end the half. Anderson kick started the run as she dribbled off a screen set by Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J.) and hit a jumper off the right elbow. The Black Bears would continue to fight as they would set up a play with second left in the first half. Maine worked the ball to Knight at the top of the key. The freshman guard put the ball on the floor, making a nice between the legs cross over and spinning through the lane, laying the ball in to cut the Dukes lead to 38-23 entering the break.

Knight paced the first half Black Bear attack with six points and three rebounds while Wumi Agunbiade netted seven points to go along with four rebounds for the Dukes.

Duquesne would continue its offensive attack as it started the second half with a 24-11 run to take a 62-34 lead midway into the period as Alex Gensler tallied nine points in the opening ten minutes of the half.

The Black Bears would continue to battle as they worked the ball around to Amber Smith (Ipswich, Mass.) who hit a jumper on the low block. However, Duquesne's offense and defensive pressure would prove to be too much to handle as the Dukes took the 76-38 victory.

Maine will return to action in day two of the Gator Holiday Classic as it will face the loser of the Charleston Southern and Florida game.


--Courtesy of University of Maine Athletic Department