Feb 04, 2014
BOSTON, Mass. -- The University of New England scored the final eight points of overtime to turn its first deficit since the opening period into a 61-54 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday evening (Feb. 4) at Tansey Gymnasium.
UNE (18-2) maintains its hold on first place in the conference standings with the win, improving to 12-1 in the league action. The Leopards slip back to 7-12 overall, 4-9 in CCC play.
The Nor'easters squandered a 48-42 lead in the last 18 seconds of regulation, but made all three field goal tries and knocked down 7-of-8 free throws in the extra session to top Wentworth for the 11th straight meeting.
Sophomore Lauren Hayden paced Big Blue with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds to go with three steals. Junior Kelly Coleman added 11 points -- including five in OT -- and nine rebounds. Senior Megan DeRaps came off the bench to make her first four shots and register a career-best 10 points.
The Leopards got a game-high 16 points out of Carly Rogers, as well as a team-high nine boards. Kendra Kerr and Rachael Camara tallied 10 points apiece, while combining for 14 rebounds and 11 steals.
After a very slow start that had Wentworth up 6-1 with seven minutes gone, UNE scored eight of the last 10 points in the 1st half to gain a 27-22 edge at the break.
The Nor'easters built the cushion up to 15 (43-28) with 8:16 to go in the 2nd frame, but struggled down the stretch.
For the game, the two sides shot 31 percent from the floor and committed 51 turnovers.
UNE returns home to face Salve Regina University on Saturday (1 p.m.). The Leopards head for Eastern Nazarene College the same day.