ORONO, Maine – Junior guard Eva DeChent scored a team-high 28 points but the seventh-seeded University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team was defeated 77-58 by second-seeded University of Maine in an Air Force Reserve 2026 America East Playoffs quarterfinal game Thursday night at Memorial Gym.

DeChent shot 9 of 14 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and made eight free throws to finish with 28 points. She also had five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh grabbed a team-high six rebounds and scored six points.

Maine was led by Adrianna Smith’s double-double of 35 points and 15 rebounds. She also led all players in both assists (five) and steals (three).

Maine led at all the breaks, but a 28-13 second quarter basically decided things after it was just 18-17 Black Bears after one. It was 63-38 after three.

UNH, which entered the game on a two-game winning streak, ends the season with a 10-20 overall record that included 4-12 in America East. Maine, which went 12-4 in the conference, advances to the semifinals with an 18-12 record.

MEN’S HOCKEY

UCONN 4, UNH 1

Freshman forward Jacob Newcombe netted his eighth goal of the season and senior goalie Kyle Chauvette of Goffstown recorded 33 saves, but the Wildcats fell to No. 14 UConn at the Toscano Family Ice Forum in Hockey East action. The Huskies win the regular season series, 2-1-0.

Tristan Fraser scored two goals for the Huskies.

The Wildcats fall to 14-18-1 (8-14-1 Hockey East), while the Huskies improve to 18-10-5 (12-8-3 Hockey East).

UNH will conclude the regular season on Saturday versus No. 17 UMass at 7 p.m. for Senior Night, Fan Appreciation Night and Volunteer Night at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex.