Depth and consistency have been key factors in the University of Maine women’s basketball team’s early success this season. These factors were highlighted in their fourth straight victory, this time against Binghamton University by a score of 70-48. The Black Bears improve their record to 12-6 and 4-1 in the America East Conference.

Second-year guard Sigi Koizar paced the Black Bears with a game-high 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Third-year forward Liz Wood had a double-double as well, chipping in 16 points and taking down 11 boards of her own.

The Bearcats were led by a youthful backcourt. First-year guards Imani Watkins and Jasmine Sina both had a team-high 14 points. Binghamton also received a strong contribution from fourth-year forward Sherae Swinson, who chipped in 10 points and brought down 10 boards.

UMaine got off to a fast start with a 7-0 sprint to start the game. The Bearcats battled back thanks to solid play by third-year guard Kim Albrecht, who finished the game with ten points.

The Black Bears took an 11-point lead late in the first frame, largely thanks to the efforts of third-year forward Mikaela Gustaffson. Gustaffson chipped in 12 points off of the bench for UMaine, including a couple of big jump shots in the end of the first half.

UMaine shot the ball well, connecting on 49 percent of their shots from the field as opposed to 36 percent from the Bearcats.

UMaine went into the half with a 33-24 advantage.

Offense was not hard to come by in the beginning of the second half, with both teams coming out of the locker rooms firing. Third-year guard Sophie Weckstrom knocked down two of her three three-pointers in the game to extend the UMaine lead to 12.

UMaine dominated on the boards, outrebounding Binghamton 38-31. They were also efficient from beyond the arc, shooting a healthy 39 percent.

The Black Bears locked down defensively, holding Binghamton scoreless for two three-minute droughts down the stretch to lock up their twelfth victory of the season.

UMaine now sits at third in the America East Conference, trailing just the University at Albany and the University of New Hampshire.

They return to action Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. when they host the University of Vermont at the Cross Insurance Center.