BIDDEFORD, Maine – Junior Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H.) scored 13 of her game-high 19 points before halftime to help the University of New England to a 42-23 advantage, and the Nor'easters breezed in the second half en route to an 82-37 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a Commonwealth Coast Conference mutual opener Wednesday (Dec. 2) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Nor'easters (4-1, 1-0 CCC), who are ranked 10th in the latest D3Hoops.com national poll and 16th in the latest WBCA Division III Coaches Poll, have won their last 16 meetings with the Leopards (2-3, 0-1) and have been victorious in 44 consecutive CCC regular-season home contests. UNE is a perfect 28-0 in regular-season conference games at the Harold Alfond Forum since the facility opened in 2012.
Brown was 8 of 16 from the floor and shared game-high honors with seven rebounds. Sophomore Olivia Shaw (Saco, Maine) contributed 12 points on a 6-for-11 performance from the field while matching Brown with seven caroms. Senior Sadie DiPierro (South Portland, Maine) chipped in 12 points for the Nor'easters, who made 47.9 percent (35 of 73) of their field goal attempts. Junior Brooke Flaherty (Portland, Maine) came off the bench to score eight points and collect five caroms.
Senior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) was the lone Wentworth player in double figures, scoring 10 points to go with three steals. Sophomore Courtney McCormick (Hanson, Mass.) tallied six points, and Senior Rachel Camara (Fall River, Mass.) had five points, a team-best six rebounds and three assists.
Trailing 5-4 in the opening minutes, UNE closed the first quarter by scoring 18 of the next 21 points to take control and lead 22-8 after one. Brown, Flaherty and Shaw combined for 13 of the 18 points during the spurt.
In the second half the Nor'easters outscored Wentworth 40-14 while holding the visitors to just 26.3 percent (5 of 19) accuracy from the floor. The Leopards shot 28.3 percent (13 of 46) for the game and were forced into 28 turnovers.
Both teams return to action Saturday with conference contests. Wentworth hosts Nichols College (1 p.m.), while the Nor'easters head to Springfield, Mass. for a tilt at Western New England University (1 p.m.).