BOSTON, Mass. -- The University of New England women's basketball team went on a 16-2 run during a five-minute span in the latter stages of the first half to push its lead into double digits, on the way to a 76-36 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) season opener played Wednesday evening at Tansey Gymnasium.

Junior Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) led the way off the bench for the Nor'easters (3-1, 1-0 CCC), shooting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc to finish with a career-high 17 points. Classmate Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) collected her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 boards.

UNE also received 13 points apiece from seniors Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) and Margo Russell (Madison, Maine). Additionally, Paradis dished out five assists and picked up five steals, while Russell corralled nine rebounds.

Sophomore reserve Megan DeRaps (Richmond, Maine) chipped in with seven second-half points for Big Blue, which ended with a 47-36 advantage in rebounding.

For the Leopards (0-5, 0-1), Morgan Furman tallied a team-best nine points off the bench. Ashley Conway and Kendra Kerr notched eight points each in support, while Conway and Ashley Stowe both pulled in seven caroms.

Leading 17-9 with 11:15 gone in the opening frame, Russell recorded eight of the next 16 points for UNE, which saw its cushion grow to 33-11 by the 3:49 mark. The margin was 41-16 at the break.

The advantage was no less than 24 at any point during the second period, as the Nor'easters' defense continued to cause Wentworth problems. The Leopards suffered from 26 turnovers and 25.5 percent (12-for-47) shooting in the game.

Big Blue, which improved to 16-2 all-time against Wentworth, returns home for a date with Salve Regina University on Saturday (1 p.m.) -- a match pitting the two teams that competed for last season's conference title.

The Leopards visit Eastern Nazarene College the same day.