LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior guard Annie Burns (Topsfield, Mass.) scored her only two points of the game by converting a pair of free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining to complete a furious second-half comeback as Bates College defeated the University of New England, 57-56, in non-conference women's basketball action Monday evening at Alumni Gym.

The Bobcats (9-2) recorded the final 10 points of the match over the last 2:56 -- five of which coming from senior Christine McCall (Lowell, Mass.), including a trey at the 43-second mark to pull the hosts within one (56-55).

A turnover each way forced Bates to foul with eight seconds to play, but the Bobcats got the ball back after UNE missed the front end of a 1-and-1. The Nor'easters, having only committed four fouls in the half to that point, used up two right away to delay Bates from advancing the ball up the court. A third, with the Bobcats still in their defensive end of the court, put Burns on the line for what would be the game-winning points.

The Nor'easters passed the ball into the front court and called timeout with 1.7 seconds on the clock, and the ensuing sideline play was tipped out-of-bounds by Bates under the basket with one second to go. UNE attempted to call another timeout but had none remaining, and was whistled for a two-shot technical foul.

After both attempts came up empty, UNE had one last shot with possession in its offensive end under the basket, but the go-ahead jumper fell short.

Big Blue (6-5) nearly led from start-to-finish apart from a few ties, trailing for just 17 seconds the entire contest. The Nor'easters had a a cushion of as many as 10 (28-18) in the opening frame before settling on a 30-24 edge at the break, and pushed the advantage to as many as 17 (51-34) with 10 minutes left in regulation.

The Bobcats made five of their seven second-half three-pointers from then on to chip away at the deficit.

McCall finished with a team-high 15 points to go with nine rebounds. Junior Lauren Dobish (Chambersburg, Pa.) added 13 points, while classmate Kelsey Flaherty (South Portland, Maine) and sophomore Allie Beaulieu (Swampscott, Mass.) each tallied nine. Beaulieu scored all of her points after halftime from behind the arc. Burns dished out 10 assists and picked up four steals.

UNE was led by junior Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) with 15 points. Senior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) posted 13 points and five assists, and junior Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) notched eight second-half points to end up with 10.

The Nor'easters, who finished on top of a 47-37 rebounding margin, struggled shooting the ball throughout the night to the tune of 30.8 percent (20-for-65).

Bates takes to the court again Thursday for game two of a six-game homestand. The Bobcats are set to entertain Colby College at 7 p.m.

Big Blue returns home for a non-conference tilt with Husson University the same evening (6 p.m.).