BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Forwards Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) and Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) combined for 31 points and 24 rebounds to help lead the University of New England women's basketball team to a 68-57 victory over St. Joseph's College of Maine in a non-conference game played Saturday (Dec. 8) afternoon at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The win snapped a two-game skid for the Nor'easters, who improved to 5-3. The Monks saw their three-game win streak come to an end as they fell to 5-2. UNE has now won the last nine meetings between the two teams.
Coleman finished with a team-best 17 points to go with 10 boards, while Suggs notched her sixth double-double of the young season with 14 points and 14 boards. Suggs has collared 11 or more rebounds in each of the Nor'easters' eight contests. First-year point guard Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) added seven points and seven assists.
St. Joe's senior Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) led all scorers with 20 points, including a 3-for-3 performance from beyond the arc. Overall, she made 6 of 8 attempts from the floor while adding six assists. First-year Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) added 10 points on a 5-for-6 showing from the floor.
Leading 55-51 with just over five minutes remaining, the Nor'easters tallied the next seven points over a 1:45 span to pull away. Suggs converted from down low to start the spurt, then Coleman scored from the paint to give UNE a 59-51 lead. First-year Michaela Flanagan (Plymouth, Mass.) added a pair of free throws, and Suggs finished off the run by making 1 of 2 at the line with 3:18 on the clock.
St. Joe's would get no closer than seven (62-55) the rest of the way.
The Monks got off to a quick start, scoring 10 points in the initial 3:02 to build a 10-6 advantage. UNE responded with a 12-4 run to take the lead (18-14) for good. Big Blue led by as many as 10 (35-25) in the first frame before settling for a 38-30 halftime cushion.
For the game, UNE held a 46-38 edge on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds. The Nor'easters also turned the ball over just 11 times, compared to 18 miscues for the Monks.
UNE is now idle for the winter break before returning to action Jan. 2 versus nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine.
St. Joseph's wraps up first-semester action next Saturday (Dec. 15) with a road contest at Framingham State.