BIDDEFORD, Maine (1/11/18) - Sophomore Jocelyn Chaput (Nashua, N.H.) scored 21 points to push the University of New England women's basketball team over visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology 82-43 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action inside the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Nor'easters win their third straight and fifth this season at home, and improve to 10-2 overall and an untouched 6-0 in league play. The Leopards drop to 1-12 this season and 0-6 against league opponents.
The Leopards were first to get on the board with a layup from freshman Erin Morton (Norway, Maine), and used a jumper from senior Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) to lead the hosts 4-2 two minutes into the first quarter. Chaput knocked down a jumper to tie the score 4-4, as the hosts ignited a 20-4 run to close the first quarter with a 24-8 advantage. Chaput and senior teammate Olivia Shaw (Saco, Maine) each scored seven points in the frame.
UNE senior Sam MacDonald (Lebanon, N.H.) and Wentworth freshman Molley Duclos (Greenfield, Mass.) traded baskets to open the second quarter, before Ashley Coneys (Dover, N.H.) broke a two-minute scoring drought with two free throws. After a 30-second timeout by the home team with 3:54 remaining, UNE exploded for three consecutive baskets from long range, and used a 13-5 spurt to shut the doors on the first half with a 42-17 advantage.
The Leopards shot 40.0% in the third quarter, as Sabino and Morton combined for 13 of Wentworth's 17 points. UNE continued its high-pressure offense until the final buzzer sounded, and put up 40 second-half points to keep the visitors out of reach.
Sabino finished with a team-high 13 points and four rebounds, while Morton rounded out double-digit scoring with 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Chaput scored 21 points in 23 minutes played to lead all scorers, and pulled down five boards in the victory for the Nor'easters. MacDonald finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Shaw scored 14 points with eight rebounds, four assists, and four of UNE's six blocks.
Both teams return to home conference action on Saturday, January 13 at 1:00 p.m. The Leopards welcome the Bison of Nichols College, while the Nor'easters host the Golden Bears of Western New England.
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