QUINCY, Mass. -- The University of New England closed the 2nd quarter on a 14-4 run to open up a tied game, and never looked back en route to a 64-53 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory over Eastern Nazarene College on Tuesday evening (Jan. 17) at the Lahue PE Center.

With their fourth straight win, the Nor'easters improve to 10-5 overall and 7-2 in CCC action. Big Blue has taken the last 17 meetings with the Lions (11-4, 5-4 CCC), who see their four-game unbeaten streak come to an end.

Sam MacDonald paced UNE with a career-high 19 points, and added a game-best eight rebounds and three steals. Alicia Brown chipped in with 17 points, six caroms, and five blocks. Lindsey Howland tossed in eight points, and Sadie Nelson had seven.

For ENC, Shelby Holmes had 11 points and six rebounds. Both Ashley Rendon and Jacquelin Arretche registered 10 points.

Holmes tallied a quick five out of the gate as the Lions took a 7-1 advantage, but the Nor'easters used the next six minutes to rattle off a 16-4 stretch. Brown accounted for half (8) of the span.

UNE's 19-17 1st-quarter cushion was wiped away with the initial basket of the 2nd. However, the visitors out-scored Eastern Nazarene by 10 over the last 7:04 to lead by that margin (33-23) at halftime. The hosts were held to 3-of-13 shooting (23%) the frame, and committed five turnovers.

After the opening hoop of the 3rd went for the Lions, the Nor'easters built the gap to its highest at 41-25. Olivia Shaw recorded all but one of her six points to start the 8-0 spurt.

ENC narrowed the spread to seven (44-37) entering the 4th, but that was as close as it would get. Brown notched the rest of her point-total (9) in the stanza to maintain UNE's separation.

The Nor'easters will be at Salve Regina University (2-6 CCC) on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off, beginning the second round of the CCC schedule.