BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England sophomore guard Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) narrowly missed a triple-double, registering nine points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals as the Nor'easters cruised past Nichols College, 59-33, in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

With their 31st consecutive regular-season conference win, the Nor'easters improve to 10-1 overall, 6-0 in CCC games. Nichols drops to 7-5 (2-4 CCC).

Junior forward Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) scored a team-high 10 points to lead Big Blue's extremely balanced scoring sheet. Hayden's nine points all came before intermission, as did nine of her rebounds and nine of her steals. She also finished with a game-best five assists. Hayden's total of 10 steals established a school single-game record, eclipsing the previous mark of nine set by Ashley St. Hilaire on Dec. 2, 2006.

Sophomore guards Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) and Sadie DiPierro (South Portland, Maine) and first-year forward Brooke Flaherty (Portland, Maine) contributed eight points apiece for UNE. Flaherty chipped in seven boards, while first-year center Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H.) had eight.

Senior guard Devon Spirka (Wilmington, Vt.) tallied a game-high 12 points to lead the way for Nichols. Junior guard Amber Litwinko (Berlin, Conn.) scored 10 points.

The Nor'easters led from start-to-finish, opening up a 13-1 cushion five minutes in and moving the lead to 25 (39-14) by halftime. UNE shot 45.2 percent (14 of 31) from the floor for the half, compared to 20 percent (5 of 25) accuracy for the Bison.

Nichols kept its halftime deficit nearly the same the entire second half, trailing by no more than 29 (47-18) at any point but getting no closer than 23 (39-16).

For the game, Big Blue held advantages in rebounds (46-26), steals (17-5) and assists (13-6).

UNE hits the court again Monday (Jan. 13) when Bates College comes to the Alfond Forum for a non-league game starting at 7 p.m.

The Bison travel to Beverly, Mass. on Wednesday (Jan. 15) to take on Endicott College in a 7:30 p.m. start.