Highlights

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Top-seeded University of New England raced out to a 16-4 cushion in less than five minutes and never looked back, picking up a 73-63 victory over No.8 Eastern Nazarene College in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday evening (Feb. 20) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Nor'easters advance into the semifinal round for a 10th straight year and will host fourth-seeded Western New England University (a 64-49 winner over Salve Regina) on Thursday at 7 p.m. [Interactive Bracket]

Leading the way for UNE (21-5) was Olivia Shaw (CCC 1st Team) with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks. Ashley Coneys tallied 13 following halftime to end with 17 points, which included 11 free throws. The hosts had a 12-point advantage at the charity stripe in the contest (19-7).

Jocelyn Chaput (CCC 3rd Team) registered 14 points and seven boards for the Nor'easters, who won for the eighth outing in-a-row. Sam MacDonald (CCC 1st Team) chipped in with 12 points.

The Lions (12-14) received 14 points from Shelby Holmes and 13 out of Alyssa Cosio Murillo. Kayla Torio (CCC 3rd Team) and Seniesha Sekaquaptewa had 12 points apiece; Torio also notched eight caroms and four assists. Michelle Detwiler recorded nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds, as ENC posted a 37-32 edge on the glass.

UNE added to its fast start with the first six of the 2nd quarter to go up 26-10, but made just 1-of-12 field goal tries the rest of the period to hold a 32-19 lead at the break.

The spread remained in double digits for all but one instance in the closing 20 minutes -- when Eastern Nazarene scored seven unanswered to get within nine (56-47) at the 6:33 mark of the 4th.

The Nor'easters have taken the last 22 meetings against the Lions dating back to the 2005-06 season.

Thursday's semifinal duel with Western New England comes just five days after the teams squared off in Springfield for the regular-season finale. Each squad won on the other's home court during the year, with the Golden Bears taking a 70-62 result on January 13 before UNE claimed a 61-54 triumph last weekend. The previous two years, Big Blue and WNEU have collided in the league final.