Feb 04, 2012
A stifling UNE defense forced 32 turnovers and limited RWU to 26 percent shooting
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England utilized a 15-0 start and a smothering defense to cruise to a 78-41 victory over Roger Williams University in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at James A. Beaudry Gymnasium.
The win is the 10th in the last 11 outings for the Nor'easters (17-4), who sit atop the CCC standings with a 12-2 mark - two games clear of their closest challengers. Roger Williams slips to 11-10 overall, 8-6 in conference play.
Junior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) played a strong game inside for Big Blue, scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds to record her fourth double-double. She scored 12 and had 11 caroms in the first half, and became the 16th player in program history to surpass the 500-rebound milestone.
Senior Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) supported with 16 points and four assists, while junior Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
UNE senior Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) added nine points, seven steals and four blocked shots for the Nor'easters. Her seven steals increased her career total to 254 -- a mark good enough for the program's all-time record in the category, which had previously been held by Christine Grillon WC '96 (251).
Sophomore Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) paced the Hawks with 11 points and 10 boards. Junior Abby Marsh (Manchester, Vt.) came off the bench to pitch in with nine points.
The Nor'easters came racing out of the gates, reeling off 15 consecutive points over the opening 4:57. LeBlanc had five points during the spurt, including a layup to cap the outburst.
After a jumper by Marsh halted UNE's run, the Nor'easters would score 16 of the next 23 points to establish a 31-9 cushion at the midway point of the period. UNE went on to lead 45-20 at the half after limiting the visiting Hawks to 26.9 percent (7 of 26) field goal shooting and forcing RWU into 19 miscues.
Big Blue started slowly in the second frame, but an 8-0 run over a three-minute span gave the Nor'easters a 59-29 lead with 10:05 on the clock. UNE's biggest margin of the afternoon (41 points | 78-37) came with 2:40 remaining.
UNE shot 46.9 percent (30 of 64) for the afternoon, compared to 26.2 percent (16 of 61) accuracy for Roger Williams. The Hawks won the battle of the glass (42-36), but committed a total of 32 turnovers.
Both teams return to the hardwood Wednesday. The Nor'easters host Eastern Nazarene College at 5:30 p.m. while the Hawks travel to Nichols College (5:30 p.m.).
The win is the 10th in the last 11 outings for the Nor'easters (17-4), who sit atop the CCC standings with a 12-2 mark - two games clear of their closest challengers. Roger Williams slips to 11-10 overall, 8-6 in conference play.
Junior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) played a strong game inside for Big Blue, scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds to record her fourth double-double. She scored 12 and had 11 caroms in the first half, and became the 16th player in program history to surpass the 500-rebound milestone.
Senior Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) supported with 16 points and four assists, while junior Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine) hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
UNE senior Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) added nine points, seven steals and four blocked shots for the Nor'easters. Her seven steals increased her career total to 254 -- a mark good enough for the program's all-time record in the category, which had previously been held by Christine Grillon WC '96 (251).
Sophomore Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) paced the Hawks with 11 points and 10 boards. Junior Abby Marsh (Manchester, Vt.) came off the bench to pitch in with nine points.
The Nor'easters came racing out of the gates, reeling off 15 consecutive points over the opening 4:57. LeBlanc had five points during the spurt, including a layup to cap the outburst.
After a jumper by Marsh halted UNE's run, the Nor'easters would score 16 of the next 23 points to establish a 31-9 cushion at the midway point of the period. UNE went on to lead 45-20 at the half after limiting the visiting Hawks to 26.9 percent (7 of 26) field goal shooting and forcing RWU into 19 miscues.
Big Blue started slowly in the second frame, but an 8-0 run over a three-minute span gave the Nor'easters a 59-29 lead with 10:05 on the clock. UNE's biggest margin of the afternoon (41 points | 78-37) came with 2:40 remaining.
UNE shot 46.9 percent (30 of 64) for the afternoon, compared to 26.2 percent (16 of 61) accuracy for Roger Williams. The Hawks won the battle of the glass (42-36), but committed a total of 32 turnovers.
Both teams return to the hardwood Wednesday. The Nor'easters host Eastern Nazarene College at 5:30 p.m. while the Hawks travel to Nichols College (5:30 p.m.).