VEZAIE, Maine (Interstat) — In a game defined by defense and missed opportunities, the Saint Joseph’s Hawks escaped the Cross Insurance Center with a 63-62 victory over the Maine Black Bears in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller on Friday night.

The Hawks improved to 2-0 on the young season, while Maine begins its campaign 0-1.

Saint Joseph’s appeared to be in control after a dominant 22-point third quarter gave them a 46-39 lead heading into the final period. However, the Black Bears mounted a furious 23-point fourth-quarter comeback, fueled by relentless offensive rebounding and clutch shooting down the stretch.

The game came down to the final seconds. With Saint Joseph’s clinging to a one-point lead, Maine’s Asta Blauenfeldt hit a dramatic 3-pointer with just two seconds remaining on the clock, assisted by Kaliyah Sain, to tie the game at 62. But on the ensuing inbound play, Saint Joseph’s Rhian Stokes was fouled by Emmie Streams and sent to the free-throw line with 1.6 seconds left.

Stokes calmly sank the first free throw to put the Hawks back in front. After a Maine timeout, she missed the second intentionally, leaving no time for a coherent final shot from the Black Bears.

The contest was a statistical anomaly. Maine won nearly every major category except the final score. The Black Bears dominated the glass, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds to Saint Joseph’s six, and committed only four turnovers compared to nine for the Hawks. Maine also had advantages in assists, steals, and points off turnovers.

However, poor shooting ultimately doomed the Black Bears. Maine shot just 23 of 66 from the floor, a 34.8% clip, and were an inefficient 8 of 16 from the free-throw line. Saint Joseph’s was only marginally better from the field at 23 of 53, but their 6-of-16 performance from beyond the arc provided a critical edge.

Maine’s Adrianna Smith, a 5-foot-10 guard from Reston, Virginia, was a force, finishing with a game-high 25 points to go along with three assists and two blocks. Blauenfeldt, a 5-6 guard from Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, was instrumental in the comeback, scoring 16 of her 18 points in the second half, including the late triple that briefly tied the game.

Saint Joseph’s offense was more balanced. Gabby Casey, a 5-9 guard from Quakertown, Pennsylvania, led the Hawks with 19 points. Faith Stinson, a 6-2 forward from Thornville, Ohio, added 16 points, and Rhian Stokes, a 5-7 guard from Ewing, New Jersey, contributed 11 points, including the game-winning free throw.

The game was a defensive grind from the start, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. The first quarter ended tied at 12, and Saint Joseph’s took a 24-20 lead into halftime after holding Maine to just eight points in the second period.

The Hawks looked to have broken the game open in the third quarter, but Maine’s resilience and second-chance opportunities, fueled by their significant rebounding advantage, set the stage for the dramatic finish that saw five lead changes in the final quarter.

Saint Joseph’s will look to build on its perfect start when it hosts Cincinnati on Tuesday. Maine, seeking its first win, faces a tough road test at North Carolina State, also on Tuesday. An announced crowd of 1,230 attended the game.