The Maine Maniacs 12U girls’ basketball team won its first game in the Division II national tournament in Clarksville, Tenn.

Trailing 41-39 entering the fourth quarter of their initial pool play game, the Maniacs, behind 15 second-half points from Saco’s Ashley Howe, went on a tremendous run to pull away from the Baltimore Lady Panthers, 62-49.

Caitlin Kane of Wilton hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the Maniacs on an unbelievable 19-0 surge with five 5 minutes remaining. Howe hit two big 3-pointers during the run, and aggressive pressure defense by the Maniacs finally got to the Panthers.

Howe finished with a team-high 19 points, going 9-for-12 from the foul line. Nia Irving of Fairfield scored 12 points and added nine rebounds. CeCe Hancock of Casco scored 10 points and had nine steals. Emily Jacques of Auburn had eight pts and led the team with 11 rebounds. Kane added six points, six assists, five steals and five rebounds.The Maniacs forced 24 turnovers.

Pool play continued Tuesday with games against the Indiana Flight and Tennessee Fury. Tennessee defeated Indiana by nine points on Monday.