SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The University of New England extended on a four-point, 1st-quarter lead by out-scoring Western New England University 27-10 in the 2nd period, on the way to an 81-62 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28) at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

With their eighth straight positive result, the Nor'easters (14-5) now shift one game ahead of the Golden Bears in the league standings with a 10-2 mark. WNEU drops to 13-5, 9-3 in the CCC.

Alicia Brown led the way with 20 points and six rebounds. Laura Holman made 5-of-6 shots off the bench to add 12 points, and Sam MacDonald went for 10 points, seven boards, and five assists. Lindsey Howland contributed eight points and four assists. The Nor'easters converted 46 percent of their field-goal tries in the match, and held their opponent to just 34 percent.

For the hosts, Emily Anderson registered a game-high 27 points, which featured four three-pointers and a 9-for-9 effort at the free throw line. Dorothy O'Neill hit three from downtown and totaled 13 points.

Brown posted 10 of her points in the opening stanza, including the go-ahead basket (6-4) near the midway mark of the frame.

UNE wasted little time seizing control in the ensuing 10 minutes, scoring all 10 over the initial 1:55 to assume a 26-12 cushion. A 12-0 spurt in the latter part of the session made the spread 23 (40-17), and the difference settled at 43-22 with the buzzer for intermission. Nine players put points on the board in the 2nd for the Nor'easters, with a high of six on back-to-back triples from Jasmine Nyce. The visiting squad connected on 10-of-15 shots and canned five treys during the quarter, while limiting Western New England to 2-of-8 shooting with seven turnovers.

The Golden Bears got back within 16 (56-40) by the end of the 3rd, and closed the gap to 72-59 with under three minutes to play in the contest -- largely behind Anderson's 13 in the period. However, Holman had 10 of her points down the stretch to help keep UNE on track.

The Nor'easters will look to keep the solid play going on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at Endicott College (8-4 CCC).