VEazie, Maine (Interstat) — The Maine women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Stonehill and secure its first victory of the season, defeating the visiting Skyhawks 79 to 53 in a non-conference matchup Monday night at a sparsely attended Cross Insurance Center.

A crowd of 922 watched as the Black Bears, who entered the contest with a 0-3 record, broke open a competitive game by outscoring Stonehill 27 to 11 in the pivotal third period. The win improved Maine’s record to 1-3, while Stonehill fell to 3-2.

The game was closely contested through the first half. Stonehill’s Bella Mallory opened the scoring with a layup just 16 seconds into the game, but Maine quickly responded. The first quarter ended with the Black Bears holding a 17 to 10 advantage, a lead they extended to 39 to 22 by halftime.

However, the third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch. Maine’s offense found a relentless rhythm, capitalizing on Stonehill’s mistakes and controlling the paint. The Black Bears’ 27-point quarter gave them a commanding 66 to 33 lead entering the final frame, effectively putting the game out of reach despite a 20-point fourth-quarter effort from the Skyhawks.

Maine’s victory was fueled by a stifling defensive effort and superior efficiency on offense. The Black Bears forced 22 Stonehill turnovers, converting them into 21 points, while committing only 13 turnovers themselves. Maine also dominated the glass, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds to Stonehill’s 7, which led to numerous second-chance opportunities and a 44 to 26 advantage in points in the paint.

The offensive disparity was stark. Maine scored 79 points on 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 106.6, while Stonehill managed just 53 points on 77 possessions, an offensive rating of 68.7. From the field, the Black Bears shot 32 of 69, compared to Stonehill’s 20 of 55.

Adrianna Smith led all scorers with a game-high 26 points for Maine. The 5-foot-10 guard from Reston, Virginia, added four assists and a block in 26 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the Black Bears’ offensive flow and efficiency.

She was complemented by Asta Blauenfeldt, who provided 14 points, four assists, and a steal. The 5-foot-6 guard from Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, was a disruptive force on both ends of the court. Lizzy Gruber, a 6-foot-4 forward from Gardiner, Maine, added 13 points and two blocks, anchoring Maine’s interior presence.

For Stonehill, Brooke Paquette of Hudson, New Hampshire, led the way with 13 points. Mallory, from Mansfield, Connecticut, finished with 12 points and two blocks. Ella Pelletier, a native of South Paris, Maine, contributed eight points in the losing effort.

The game’s statistical sheet underscored Maine’s comprehensive performance. The Black Bears dished out 17 assists to Stonehill’s 7 and recorded 17 steals compared to the Skyhawks’ 7. Maine also blocked six shots, led by Gruber and Sarah Talon with two apiece.

Stonehill, which had won three of its first four games, including a 77 to 55 victory over Rider last Thursday, struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against Maine’s pressure. The Skyhawks will look to rebound on Saturday when they host Bryant.

Maine, which had suffered narrow losses to Saint Joseph’s and VCU in its previous two outings, will seek to build on this momentum. The Black Bears’ next game is on the road Sunday against Brown.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Maine entered the game with an 86.90 percent probability to win, a projection the Black Bears fulfilled with their commanding second-half performance.