STANDISH, Maine -- Junior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) recorded a game-high with 14 points, including eight during a key first-half surge, to lead the University of New England women's basketball team to a 55-38 win over Saint Joseph's College of Maine in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at the Harold Alfond Center.

The victory comes on the heels of UNE's impressive triumph over nationally-ranked Colby College on Tuesday and improves Big Blue's mark to 6-1 -- its best start since the 1989-90 campaign. St. Joe's suffered its fourth consecutive setback to fall below the .500 mark at 4-5. The victory was UNE's eighth straight over the Monks.

Suggs made 6 of 12 shots from the floor, including a 5-of-8 performance in the first half to record 12 points. She also had a game-best eight boards.

Junior Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) was the only other UNE player in double figures, scoring 11 points. Senior Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) chipped in nine points and matched a career-high with seven assists, and classmate Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) added eight points, seven caroms, and three steals.

First-year Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) scored seven points and was credited with three steals, while Kendra Dawless notched six points and a season-best six rebounds.

Junior Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) led the way for the Monks with 11 points. Sophomore Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) tallied eight and senior Allie Parent (Camden, Maine) seven.

Trailing 13-9 with 12:32 remaining in the first half, the Nor'easters reeled off 13 consecutive points to seize control. Suggs poured in eight points during the decisive spurt, including a jumper to cap the surge at the 8:28 mark. Big Blue would not trail the remainder of the afternoon and took a 30-18 cushion into intermission.

UNE would start the second half strong, netting the opening eight points of the frame to push its advantage to 20 (38-18). The Nor'easters held St. Joe's to 33.3 percent (8 of 24) shooting from the floor after halftime.

For the contest, the Nor'easters held a 41-30 advantage on the backboards and forced the Monks into 22 turnovers. UNE connected on just 3 of 21 attempts (14.3 percent) from beyond the arc, but made 75 percent (12-for-16) of its free throw attempts.

Both teams are idle until after the holiday break. The Nor'easters return to the hardwood Jan. 2 when they host No. 11 Williams College at 4 p.m., and St. Joseph's heads to Lyndon State College on Jan. 4 for a 6 p.m. contest.