Jan 09, 2014
NEWPORT, R.I. -- After tying things up with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, the University of New England did just enough in the extra session to escape Salve Regina University with a 79-78 victory in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action Thursday evening (Jan. 9) at the Rodgers Rec Center.
The Nor'easters (9-1) now stand alone atop the CCC standings at 5-0, while the Seahawks (4-7) dip back to 2-3 in CCC games. It was the first meeting between the teams since squaring off in the conference tournament final last season, and the fourth straight decision to go for UNE in the all-time series, which is now tied at 11-all.
Junior Kelly Coleman matched her career-high that she established just five days ago, totaling 25 points (including 17 in the 2nd half) to go with 14 rebounds. Sophomore Lauren Hayden notched 14 points, seven caroms, and six steals. Classmate Meghan Gribbin chipped in with 12 points before fouling out late in regulation.
Big Blue trailed 64-59 with less than a minute to go before Hayden slashed to the basket for two. One free throw by SRU with 43 seconds on the clock made it 65-61, and then Coleman spun to her left down the lane to reduce the margin to two with 29 ticks left.
An immediate turnover in the backcourt by the Seahawks gave possession back to UNE, and a foul sent the Nor'easters to the line for two freebies. Sophomore Alanna Vose, who finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists, converted just the second one to make it 65-64.
After Meaghan Harden sunk the second of two free throws to bump the Salve Regina lead back up to two (66-64), a UNE miss from in close went out-of-bounds off SRU. Inserting the ball from the baseline with 2.8 showing, Vose lobbed a pass up for first-year Alicia Brown curling into the paint, and the center buried the short jumper to level the match at 66-all. Brown totaled eight points and eight rebounds on the night.
UNE got one more chance to end the game in 40 minutes when Salve turned the ball over without any time elapsing off the clock, but the off-balance shot slid across the rim and out.
Vose gave the Nor'easters the lead for good at 72-70 on a backdoor layup midway through overtime. Still ahead by two (77-75) with 11 seconds left, UNE came up empty on a pair of free throws, leaving the Seahawks with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. But an errant pass in the offensive zone was intercepted by Hayden, who was fouled and all but sealed the deal with two swishes at the charity stripe.
Harden, who banked-in a running three-pointer at the buzzer to provide the final margin, finished with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds for SRU. Marissa Pendergast added 21 points and nine boards before an injury put her on the sideline. Brianna Del Valle tossed in 17 points to go with 15 rebounds for the hosts, who ended with a 51-41 edge on the glass.
Salve Regina out-scored their opponents by nine at the free throw line, as the Nor'easters made good on just 23 of 38 (61 percent) of their attempts.
Early on, play went back-and-forth with sizeable runs for each squad. After surrendering the opening basket to UNE, the Seahawks scored 11 unanswered points over four minutes. Big Blue was down 15-4 when it turned in a 14-0 spurt in less than seven minutes to edge in front. An 8-0 run in two minutes swung the favor right back (23-18) to SRU, which eventually carried a 27-23 cushion into the halftime break.
The Seahawks were the last team to defeat Big Blue in a regular-season conference outing, doing so back on January 28, 2012 at home. UNE has won the last 30 regular-season dates against CCC competition since that contest.
The Nor'easters are in Biddeford on Saturday (1 p.m.) to entertain Nichols College.
Junior Kelly Coleman matched her career-high that she established just five days ago, totaling 25 points (including 17 in the 2nd half) to go with 14 rebounds. Sophomore Lauren Hayden notched 14 points, seven caroms, and six steals. Classmate Meghan Gribbin chipped in with 12 points before fouling out late in regulation.
Big Blue trailed 64-59 with less than a minute to go before Hayden slashed to the basket for two. One free throw by SRU with 43 seconds on the clock made it 65-61, and then Coleman spun to her left down the lane to reduce the margin to two with 29 ticks left.
An immediate turnover in the backcourt by the Seahawks gave possession back to UNE, and a foul sent the Nor'easters to the line for two freebies. Sophomore Alanna Vose, who finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists, converted just the second one to make it 65-64.
After Meaghan Harden sunk the second of two free throws to bump the Salve Regina lead back up to two (66-64), a UNE miss from in close went out-of-bounds off SRU. Inserting the ball from the baseline with 2.8 showing, Vose lobbed a pass up for first-year Alicia Brown curling into the paint, and the center buried the short jumper to level the match at 66-all. Brown totaled eight points and eight rebounds on the night.
UNE got one more chance to end the game in 40 minutes when Salve turned the ball over without any time elapsing off the clock, but the off-balance shot slid across the rim and out.
Vose gave the Nor'easters the lead for good at 72-70 on a backdoor layup midway through overtime. Still ahead by two (77-75) with 11 seconds left, UNE came up empty on a pair of free throws, leaving the Seahawks with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. But an errant pass in the offensive zone was intercepted by Hayden, who was fouled and all but sealed the deal with two swishes at the charity stripe.
Harden, who banked-in a running three-pointer at the buzzer to provide the final margin, finished with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds for SRU. Marissa Pendergast added 21 points and nine boards before an injury put her on the sideline. Brianna Del Valle tossed in 17 points to go with 15 rebounds for the hosts, who ended with a 51-41 edge on the glass.
Salve Regina out-scored their opponents by nine at the free throw line, as the Nor'easters made good on just 23 of 38 (61 percent) of their attempts.
Early on, play went back-and-forth with sizeable runs for each squad. After surrendering the opening basket to UNE, the Seahawks scored 11 unanswered points over four minutes. Big Blue was down 15-4 when it turned in a 14-0 spurt in less than seven minutes to edge in front. An 8-0 run in two minutes swung the favor right back (23-18) to SRU, which eventually carried a 27-23 cushion into the halftime break.
The Seahawks were the last team to defeat Big Blue in a regular-season conference outing, doing so back on January 28, 2012 at home. UNE has won the last 30 regular-season dates against CCC competition since that contest.
The Nor'easters are in Biddeford on Saturday (1 p.m.) to entertain Nichols College.