Nov 26, 2013
BRUNSWICK, Maine -- In an early-season battle of undefeated women's basketball teams, Bowdoin College captured a 64-59 victory over the University of New England on Tuesday evening (Nov. 26) at Morrell Gymnasium.
The Polar Bears (5-0) expanded their eight-point halftime advantage to 12 (38-36) a few minutes into the 2nd period, before the Nor'easters (4-1) answered with a 12-2 stretch to close the gap by the midway mark of the half.
After the margin was bumped up to seven (47-40) momentarily, a basket by sophomore Sadie DiPierro and a three-pointer from classmate Alanna Vose cut the deficit back down. The difference was no more than four either way in the final 7:45, until the last point of the night.
Bowdoin held a 52-49 edge with 5:57 left, but a pair of free throws from first-year Brooke Flaherty brought the visitors to within one. Following empty trips in both directions, UNE sophomore Lauren Hayden got a steal and found DiPierro for a trey on the left wing to give Big Blue its first lead in nearly 29 minutes (4:36).
The hosts received two freebies from junior Megan Phelps to tie it, and classmate Sara Brinkhorst dropped in a left-baseline jumper with 3:21 on the clock to put the Polar Bears back in front for good (56-64).
Sophomore Shannon Brady made 1-of-2 at the line for Bowdoin and Flaherty countered with two for UNE to slice the deficit to one. Brinkhorst netted her third trifecta with 1:56 to go, making it a four-point game, however Vose reduced it right back down to one (60-59) at the 1:40 mark with her fourth connection from long distance.
After Brady layed one in with 1:20 left, the Nor'easters had two possessions with chances to extend the contest, but could not convert. Brinkhorst sealed things with a pair from the charity stripe with 2.2 seconds remaining.
Brinkhorst led all players with a career-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor. Brady added 17 points and eight rebounds, helping the Polar Bears to a 36-27 advantage on the glass. Bowdoin overcame 28 turnovers to get the decision.
For UNE, Vose tallied a career-best 18 points. DiPierro drained three from behind the arc to finish with 11 points to go with four steals, and junior Kelly Coleman also ended with 11 points. Hayden totaled six points, five rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals.
Bowdoin resumes its schedule next Tuesday with a non-league date at the University of Southern Maine.
The Nor'easters have eight days off before heading to Eastern Nazarene College for the opener of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) season.