BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Tournament Most Valuable Player Hannah Foley (Acton, Mass.) scored 18 points to lead the Tufts University women's basketball team to a hard-fought 63-58 win over the University of New England in the championship game of the Ramada Roundball Invitational Sunday evening (Nov. 16) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The game was a rematch of last year's NCAA III Championship second-round battle, in which Tufts stunned the Nor'easters with a three-pointer at the buzzer of overtime to take a 57-54 victory. The Jumbos (2-0) are currently ranked third in one national poll and fourth in another, while UNE (1-1) sits at 16th and 20th in those rankings.

Foley made 3 of 4 from behind the arc and all of her five free throw attempts, including four in the final 0:12 to help ice the victory. Sophomore forward/center Michela North (Duxbury, Mass.) had 14 points before fouling out for the Jumbos, while senior forward Hayley Kanner (Scarsdale, N.Y.) contributed nine points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots en route to being named all-tournament.

UNE senior forward Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. She was 9-for-10 at the free throw line and contributed three steals and two blocked shots. Junior guard Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) poured in 19 points, including three treys, and junior point guard Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) added 10 points.

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening 10 minutes, combining for just 13 points over that time. Leading 7-6 halfway through the frame, the Jumbos used an 8-2 run to gain some separation. They would go on to lead 28-21 at the break.

The contest opened up a bit offensively after intermission. Tufts pushed its lead into double digits (40-30) on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Josie Lee (Augusta, Maine) with 13:59 on the clock, but UNE chipped away and would get as close as two (50-48) on a pair of free throws by Coleman with 6:21 remaining.

Senior point guard Kelsey Morehead (Foster City, Calif.) hit a big three-pointer on the Jumbos' next possession, and the Nor'easters were unable to get any closer than three the rest of the way.

The Jumbos will look to remain unbeaten Tuesday when Hartwick College comes to Cousens Gymnasium for Tufts' home-opener. Game time is 7 p.m.

UNE will face in-state rival University of Southern Maine on Wednesday evening at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham (5:30 p.m.).