Nor'easters cruise to big win in season-opener

More news about: University of New England
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Five players reached double digits as the University of New England chalked up a 101-31 victory over Daniel Webster College in the opener of the Ramada Roundball Invitational women's basketball tip-off event on Friday evening (Nov. 15) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Nor'easters (1-0) will meet Rhode Island College -- a 73-68 winner over Westfield State University -- in Saturday's tournament final (3 p.m.).

Sophomore Meghan Gribbin tallied a career-best 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 4-of-6 accuracy from deep. Junior Kelly Coleman and first-year Alicia Brown had their way in the paint all night, as Coleman went for 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Brown totaled 13 points, 12 boards, three steals, and a pair of blocks. The front-line duo combined for 18 offensive caroms, of which UNE racked up 33 for the game.

Big Blue got 10 points each from sophomores Lauren Hayden and Michaela Flanagan. Hayden added seven assists and eight steals, helping the hosts amass a 47-2 margin in points-off-turnovers.

For the Eagles (0-1), first-year Katherine Johnson registered 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

UNE scored the game's first 12 points in a little more than four minutes of action, but the lead was just nine (17-8) at the 11:04 mark.

It was all Nor'easters from there, as the cushion swelled to 43 (55-12) heading into intermission.

The 101 points was the highest scoring output for Big Blue in 4+ seasons (2008-09), when UNE dropped 116 on Thomas College. The final margin of 70 was the largest in over 18 years (1994-95).

Daniel Webster faces Westfield State in the 1 p.m. consolation match on Saturday.