BEVERLY, Mass. -- Junior guard Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) scored a game-high 22 points to power the University of New England Nor'easters to a 71-64 win over host Endicott College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action Tuesday evening at MacDonald Gymnasium.

In picking up its seventh consecutive victory, UNE (16-6, 9-1 TCCC) now stands alone in second place in the conference standings. The Gulls (14-6, 8-2) and the Nor'easters had been tied for the second spot heading into the contest.

Paradis was 9 of 16 from the floor and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds to lead the way for Big Blue. Junior Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) chipped in 18 points, thanks in part to an 8-for-8 performance at the free throw line. Sophomore Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) offered a strong outing off the bench, scoring seven points and hauling in six boards.

Senior Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) tallied 21 points and dished out five assists for Endicott. She connected on four shots from beyond the arc. Classmate Brittany Kelleher (Wakefield, Mass.) contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 caroms.

Trailing by seven (15-8) midway through the first half, the Nor'easters outscored the hosts 19-3 the rest of the frame to head into the locker room with a 27-18 advantage. Seven different players scored during the surge for UNE, which forged its nine-point cushion despite shooting just 30 percent (9 of 30) for the frame.

Big Blue would lead from start-to-finish in the second half. building a 15-point (44-29) margin before Endicott rallied late. The Gulls got as close as three (64-61) on a three-ball by Wright with 1:30 remaining, but Paradis responded with a three-point play on UNE's next possession to fend off Endicott's momentum.

Both teams warmed up after halftime with Endicott making 53.1 percent (17 of 32) of its field goal attempts and UNE countering at 46.7 percent (14 of 30). The Nor'easters connected on 12 of 14 (85.7 percent) of their free throw attempts after halftime.

UNE plays another key conference game this coming Saturday, heading to New London, N.H. for a 1 p.m. start with Colby-Sawyer College.