GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine jumped out to a 26-6 lead in the first half and shot 51.1 percent for the game on its way to a 73-62 non-conference women's basketball victory over the University of New England Wednesday night (Jan. 2) at Hill Gymnasium.

The Huskies up their 2012-13 record to a perfect 12-0 with the triumph, while the Nor'easters slip back to 5-4 overall.

Jordan Grant paced the home side with a solid all-around performance, totaling 19 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, picking up eight steals, and registering three blocks. She also made all nine of her free throw attempts in the contest, accounting for nearly half of her team's points (20) at the charity stripe.

Nicole Garland added 15 points and eight assists, while Nash Biliew finished with 13 points and seven boards.

For UNE, sophomore Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) ended one rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine caroms. First-year Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) chipped in with 10 points -- nine of which came in the opening 20 minutes.

First-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) had nine points along with six steals in support for Big Blue, and classmate Michaela Flanagan (Plymouth, Mass.) tossed in eight points.

After the initial basket went for Coleman, Southern Maine rattled off the next 15 points in less than five minutes to assume control. Garland had nine during the run.

The cushion peaked at 20 midway through the period, and the Huskies still led by 19 (38-19) inside the final five minutes of the first frame. But the Nor'easters closed with 11 of the last 15 points to reduce the margin to 12 (42-30) at the break.

USM connected on 63 percent (12 of 19) field goal tries in the stanza, and went 16-for-17 at the foul line. UNE could only convert 30 percent (9 of 30) of its shots during the half.

Big Blue senior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) had four points in the initial stages of the second period to help the visitors trim the deficit to eight (44-36), but the Nor'easters could not get any closer. The difference went from as high as 16 to as low as 10 the rest of the way.

Both squads get back to conference action on Saturday (1 p.m.). The Huskies head to Keene State College, while UNE is set to entertain Roger Williams University.