NEWPORT, R.I. -- The University of New England scored 21 straight points during an eight-minute span after halftime to erase a small deficit on its way to a key 67-52 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball win over Salve Regina University on Saturday (Dec. 1) at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

It was Big Blue's third straight victory (4-1), and moved the Nor'easters to 2-0 in CCC games. The Seahawks -- picked ahead of UNE in the league preseason poll -- drop to 1-3 overall (0-2 CCC).

Senior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) registered a game-high 21 points, and made it double-double number four on the year with 14 rebounds. Sophomore Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) had a double-double of her own with 14 points and 11 boards for UNE, which out-rebound its opponent 54-42 in the game.

First-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) added nine points, six rebounds, and five steals, while classmate Michaela Flanagan (Plymouth, Mass.) contributed seven points, five rebounds, and five assists. Fellow rookie Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) finished with six points, all from the free throw line.

For Salve, Marissa Pendergast totaled 11 points and seven rebounds and Meaghan Harden notched 10 points. Brianna Del Valle had nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.

UNE led 7-4 in the early-going following a trey from senior Liz LeBlanc (Jay, Maine), only to see a 12-2 spurt by the Seahawks push the hosts in front (16-9) with six minute gone.

SRU maintained the edge for the rest of the period, though baskets by LeBlanc and Hayden inside the final minute of the frame sliced the difference down to three (31-28) at intermission.

It wasn't until a Flanagan layup with 15:08 to go the game that the Nor'easters began to make their move. Big Blue tacked another 19 points on the board before Salve managed to score again, but by that time the UNE cushion was 55-36 with a little over eight minutes remaining.

The Seahawks would not get any closer than 10 (57-47) down the stretch.

UNE returns home for a non-conference date with Colby College on Thursday (7 p.m.).


(revised 12/3/12 5:00 a.m.)