BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Jocelyn Chaput (CCC 1st Team) matched a personal best with 23 points to pace second-seeded University of New England in a 64-39 victory over seventh-seeded Gordon College in the opening round of the 2019 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday night (Feb. 19) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Nor'easters (15-11) advance to entertain third-seeded Western New England University in Thursday's (7 p.m.) semifinal, after the Golden Bears held off Salve Regina University for a 64-52 decision [Interactive Bracket]. UNE has now won six in-a-row since a January 26 setback to WNEU.
Gordon wraps up its season with an 8-18 record.
It was the third time this season the Chaput registered 23 in the scoring column. UNE received 13 points of support from Sadie Nelson (CCC 1st Team), who canned four treys and finished one rebound shy of a double-double (9). Allie Goodman added 10 points and six boards off the bench.
The Nor'easters had a 41-29 advantage on the glass, and limited the Fighting Scots to 28 percent (14-of-50) shooting while forcing 19 turnovers.
For the visitors, Abby Vampatella hit 4-of-6 from downtown on her way to 16 points, and collected eight rebounds. Brooke Dyson tossed in 10 points.
UNE surged out to a 17-5 cushion in the 1st, and maintained exactly that separation (32-20) at the half. Things remained in double digits for the last 20 minutes, however Gordon trimmed the deficit to 10 (43-33) with a triple to open the 4th frame. The Nor'easters responded with 19 of the next 21 points to put the game away.
Thursday's meeting between UNE and Western New England will mark the fifth straight year the programs have squared off in the postseason. The squads played twice last month, which included a 63-54 road triumph for the Nor'easters on January 5. The Golden Bears then trailed by a dozen in the final period in Biddeford, but rallied to earn a season split (65-60).