WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The University of New England women's basketball squad scored the last seven points of its season-opener against Wellesley College to secure a 46-43 victory over the Blue on Saturday (Nov. 17) on day one of the Williams College Tournament at Chandler Gymnasium.

The Nor'easters (1-0) trailed 34-25 with a little over 11 minutes remaining in the match, but had things back level at 34-all by the 6:37 mark. After UNE moved in front by one (39-38), Wellesley's Morgyne Weaver scored the next five to give her side a four-point cushion (43-39) with 2:34 on the clock.

Sophmore Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) answered right back for UNE to make the difference two, and free throw by first-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) cut the margin to one. A layup by first-year Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) with 1:20 left -- her only basket of the contest -- gave Big Blue the final lead of the night, before Hayden added a pair from the charity stripe in the waning seconds to seal the deal.

UNE forward Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) began her senior season with a strong performance, going for game-highs of 16 points and 22 caroms. The rebounding total bested her career-high of 20 that she achieved last year, and ranks fourth among the program's single-game efforts in the category -- the largest since the 1993-94 season.

Coleman finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in support, while Hayden ended with eight and eight.

For Wellesley (0-1), Weaver registered 13 points and Meghan Sargent recorded 12 points to go with 10 boards.

The low-scoring affair was a result of a combined 25 percent shooting from the floor and 43 turnovers from the two sides, and started with just under six minutes of scoreless action following the opening tip. UNE broke the drought on a layup by first-year Michaela Flanagan (Plymouth, Mass.) and quickly made the lead 7-0 with a three-pointer from Coleman and layup from first-year Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine).

It took two free throws from Suggs to put the Nor'easters up, 9-8, with 8:30 left in the first, before Wellesley rolled out a 9-2 run that was only interrupted by a basket from Suggs. The Blue carried a 20-17 edge into the halftime break.

Both teams play their second game at the Williams Tournament on Sunday. UNE battles the host Ephs -- ranked at No. 23 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 Poll -- at 3 p.m., while Wellesley takes on Salve Regina University at 1 p.m.