BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England opened up a 27-8 cushion through 10 minutes and never looked back, defeating Nichols College by a 75-57 margin in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

With the result, the Nor'easters (7-5) bring an end to their three-game skid and move to 4-2 in league games. The Bison fall for the seventh straight outing, back to 1-11 overall and 1-5 in the CCC. Big Blue has won the last 16 meetings against NC.

Sam MacDonald led UNE with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Alicia Brown totaled 12 points, seven boards, and six blocks, while Sadie Nelson tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Jasmine Nyce came off the bench to register nine points, and Laura Holman tossed in eight. Jocelyn Chaput contributed four assists and six caroms for the hosts, who out-rebounded Nichols by a 48-36 spread. The Nor'easters also had a 34-12 scoring advantage in the paint.

For the Bison, Brooke Packard notched a game-high 17 points and four steals. Mekaela Giantonio added 10 points, and Taylor Daniels went for eight. Allison Cerrato had team highs of six rebounds and four assists.

Nelson recorded nine of the her points in the 1st quarter, during which UNE made 44 percent of its field goals and held Nichols to 18 percent (2-of-11) with seven turnovers.

Back-to-back three-pointers got the Bison within 10 (34-24) during the 2nd period, but that was an close as the visitors would get. The gap was 14 (38-24) at the break, and shifted between 12 and 20 the rest of the way.

UNE will stay home to face Gordon College on Wednesday (5:30 p.m.), while Nichols returns to Dudley to entertain Eastern Nazarene College at the same time.