BIDDEFORD, Maine  - Senior guard Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine/Oxford Hills) sank two free throws in the final 18 seconds of play to lift the University of New England Nor'easters to a 65-63 win over the University of Southern Maine in a non-conference women's basketball game Tuesday Night at the Campus Center in Biddeford, Maine.

         With both teams playing in their season-opening contests, the Nor'easters open their season at 1-0 earning their fourth straight win over the Huskies, and third consecutive season opening win against USM.  The Huskies start their 2011-12 campaign at 0-1. 

         Despite finishing 0-4 from the field, Pelletier was a cool and calm 7-for-8 from the free throw line as the Nor'easters used a sizeable advantage from the charity stripe to ensnare the win.  UNE finished the game 22-for-34 from the free throw line (64.7 percent).  The Huskies were just as accurate from the charity stripe (69.2 percent) but only saw the free throw line 13 times making nine.

         Junior forward Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine/Morse) led UNE with 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field and seven rebounds, including six offensive boards.  Senior forward Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) added 15 points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists.

         Southern Maine senior forward Courtney Cochran (Waite, Maine/Woodland) nearly willed her team to the win with 24 point and 13 rebounds, both game-high totals.  The 6-1 forward was 8-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.  Junior forward Jordan Grant (Concord, N.H.) added 10 points in her Husky debut, while senior guard Renee Nicholas (Sebago, Maine/Lake Region) added nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. 

         In a see-saw battle, neither team could grab more than a five point lead, the Huskies inched ahead of the Nor'easters on a three-pointer from junior guard Haley Jordan (Falmouth, Maine) with 1:20 to play.  Suggs made one of two free throws following a USM foul to bring her team back even with the Huskies with 1:01 on the clock. 

         After a missed possession by USM, the Nor'easter had the ball with just over 30 seconds to play and the Huskies' committed their 24th foul of the game to put Pelletier on the line with 18 seconds to go.  After Pelletier's two free throws, Southern Maine had two looks at the basket and the potential game-tying shot rolled in and out of the basket for the final. 

         Southern Maine travels to Farmington, Maine for the UMaine Farmington Tip-Off Tournament.  The Huskies will face UMaine Fort Kent on Friday (5:30 p.m.).  The University of New England will host Rhode Island College on Saturday (2:00 p.m.). 

–cac–