QUINCY, Mass. -- University of New England first-year Lauren Hayden had a career-best 18 points while senior Beth Suggs eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau by scoring 16, as the Nor'easters defeated Eastern Nazarene College, 61-47, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game Wednesday (Feb. 6) evening at LaHue Physical Education Center.

With their school-record 13th consecutive victory, the Nor'easters (18-4, 15-0 CCC) clinched the top seed for the upcoming CCC Championship. Leading by four games in the standings with three regular-season contests remaining, UNE is seeking its first unbeaten CCC ledger since joining the league in 1999. The Nor'easters have now won 10 straight versus Eastern Nazarene (10-12, 5-10).

Hayden, whose 18 points led all scorers, tallied 14 on 5-for-6 shooting in the first half. She finished with a 7-for-8 performance from the floor to go with six steals.

Suggs connected on a jumper with 11:22 left in the game to become the 21st player in program history to score at least 1,000 points. Needing nine markers to reach the plateau heading into the contest, she also led all rebounders with eight.

Junior Kelly Coleman added 10 points and five boards for the Nor'easters, who never trailed on the evening.

Ace Carridine and Presley Neufeld scored 11 points apiece for the Lions. Abbie Tonello chipped in eight points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Hayden tallied nine points over the opening eight minutes to help UNE open up a 15-7 lead. After a three-pointer by Liz LeBlanc gave the Nor'easters a 26-12 cushion with 7:21 left in the frame, Eastern Nazarene held Big Blue scoreless over the next four minutes but was unable to convert on the offensive end, scoring just three points.

UNE took a 31-19 advantage into the break.

The Nor'easters' lead would remain in double digits the entire second half. Big Blue led by as many 23 on two occasions in the final frame.

For the game, UNE made half (25 of 52) of its field goal attempts while forcing 28 Eastern Nazarene turnovers. The Nor'easters shot a woeful 27.8 percent (5 of 18) from the charity stripe. 

Both teams are scheduled to return to action Saturday, weather permitting. UNE plays at Nichols College (noon start), and the Lions head to Western New England.