Feb 21, 2013
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England roared out to a 26-6 cushion midway through the first half and never looked back, as the top-seeded Nor'easters finished off a 69-48 victory over No. 5 Endicott College in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship played Thursday evening (Feb. 21) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
With their 18th consecutive win, the Nor'easters (23-4) move on to face third-seeded Salve Regina University (a 69-48 winner over No. 2 Roger Williams University) in the championship game on Saturday. Tip time between UNE and the Seahawks will be 2 p.m.
First-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) led three Big Blue players in double figures with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. She also corralled seven steals in the game, bringing her total on the year to 93 -- the highest single-season mark in UNE history.
Rookie Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) added 12 points and five assists, and senior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Sophomores Kendra Dawless (West Greenwich, R.I.) and Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) had seven points apiece, and went for seven and five rebounds, respectively.
For the contest, the Nor'easters scored 26 points off 23 Endicott turnovers, and held a 45-35 edge on the glass.
The Gulls (16-11) received a team-high 13 points from junior Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.). Classmate Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) ended with nine points, eight caroms, and five blocks.
Hayden got the night started with three free throws in the opening minute, before first-year Sadie DiPierro (South Portland, Maine) knocked down a three-pointer to make it 6-0.
White put the Gulls on the board moments later, but Gribbin added two more from the charity stripe, and DiPierro connected from long range once again to force an Endicott timeout at 11-2 with 3:48 gone.
The visitors scored on the possession right out of the break, but only managed two points over the ensuing six minutes as UNE built a 20-point lead (26-6). Hayden (7), Gribbin (6), DiPierro (6), and Suggs (5) accounted for the hosts' initial 24 points.
The Big Blue margin reached as high as 29 before final basket of the period went for the Gulls, making it a 40-13 difference at halftime. EC shot just 24 percent (5 of 21) and turned the ball over 15 times in the opening 20 minutes.
Endicott could only get back as close as 20 (49-29, 51-31) in the second frame.
The last four CCC titles have gone to either the Nor'easters or Salve Regina, making Saturday's final no different. It will be the second time in three seasons that the two have met to decide the league champion.
Click HERE for the post-game interview with Lauren Hayden, Beth Suggs, and coach Anthony Ewing
Click HERE to view the Photo Gallery
With their 18th consecutive win, the Nor'easters (23-4) move on to face third-seeded Salve Regina University (a 69-48 winner over No. 2 Roger Williams University) in the championship game on Saturday. Tip time between UNE and the Seahawks will be 2 p.m.
First-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) led three Big Blue players in double figures with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. She also corralled seven steals in the game, bringing her total on the year to 93 -- the highest single-season mark in UNE history.
Rookie Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) added 12 points and five assists, and senior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Sophomores Kendra Dawless (West Greenwich, R.I.) and Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) had seven points apiece, and went for seven and five rebounds, respectively.
For the contest, the Nor'easters scored 26 points off 23 Endicott turnovers, and held a 45-35 edge on the glass.
The Gulls (16-11) received a team-high 13 points from junior Jennifer White (Lisbon, N.H.). Classmate Samantha Crough (Cohasset, Mass.) ended with nine points, eight caroms, and five blocks.
Hayden got the night started with three free throws in the opening minute, before first-year Sadie DiPierro (South Portland, Maine) knocked down a three-pointer to make it 6-0.
White put the Gulls on the board moments later, but Gribbin added two more from the charity stripe, and DiPierro connected from long range once again to force an Endicott timeout at 11-2 with 3:48 gone.
The visitors scored on the possession right out of the break, but only managed two points over the ensuing six minutes as UNE built a 20-point lead (26-6). Hayden (7), Gribbin (6), DiPierro (6), and Suggs (5) accounted for the hosts' initial 24 points.
The Big Blue margin reached as high as 29 before final basket of the period went for the Gulls, making it a 40-13 difference at halftime. EC shot just 24 percent (5 of 21) and turned the ball over 15 times in the opening 20 minutes.
Endicott could only get back as close as 20 (49-29, 51-31) in the second frame.
The last four CCC titles have gone to either the Nor'easters or Salve Regina, making Saturday's final no different. It will be the second time in three seasons that the two have met to decide the league champion.
Click HERE for the post-game interview with Lauren Hayden, Beth Suggs, and coach Anthony Ewing
Click HERE to view the Photo Gallery