Dec 05, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- With 12 of the game's last 14 points over the final 5:27, nationally-ranked the University of New England erased a five-point deficit to chalk up a 57-52 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball decision over Western New England University on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 5) at the AHL Center.
The #10/16 Nor'easters improve to 5-1 overall, 2-0 in the CCC with their 15th straight win over the league foe. The Golden Bears drop to 3-4 on the year (1-1 CCC).
WNE extended its one-point lead through three quarters up to 50-45 with 7:28 left. But the hosts would go more than seven minutes without a point (0-9 FG) and committed five turnovers during that time as UNE cranked up the defensive pressure and started to rally.
A pair of free throw by Olivia Shaw drew the Nor'easters to within two (50-48) at the 3:59 mark, and a minute later Shaw put in a layup to even the score. On the next possession, a steal and breakaway lay-in by Sadie DiPierro shifted the visitors in front for good. Big Blue made 5-of-6 freebies in the waning moments to seal it.
Alicia Brown led all players with 15 points for UNE, 14 of which came in the opening half. Alanna Vose and Sam MacDonaldended with 11 and 10 points, respectively, with a combined 14 of those coming after the midway break. Shaw tallied all of her eight points in the closing 20 minutes. Lauren Hayden registered 10 rebounds and six assists.
The Nor'easters, who trailed for more than 26 minutes in the contest, overcame 28 percent field goal shooting (including 2-of-24 from deep) by turning 22 Golden Bears turnovers into 22 points and converting 18 offensive rebounds into 13 points. UNE also posted a +11 point-margin at the charity stripe.
For Western New England, which had a 41-35 advantage on the glass, Chelsea Vujs recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Emily Anderson also scored 10 points. The Golden Bears shot 43 percent in the match.
Big Blue's largest lead of the day came at the start, as Brown had seven points in a 9-0 cushion just 2:35 in. However, WNE wrapped up the initial period with a 13-2 run to go up three (16-13) through 10 minutes.
Though UNE notched the first five of the 2nd quarter, a 10-2 spurt by the hosts established their biggest lead of the game at 26-20. The gap was three (28-25) at halftime.
Again, the Nor'easters began a frame (3rd) with five points to briefly slip in front, but were short one (44-43) on the scoreboard heading into the final stanza.
UNE will have two weeks off before outings in back-to-back days on a trip to Puerto Rico -- on December 20, the Nor'easters will face #20/17 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and then square off against Concordia University (Wisc.) on December 21.