UNE Holds of Wentworth

(Courtesy of UNE Sports Information)

BIDDEFORD, Maine — Sophomore Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) and junior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) combined for 21 second-half points as the University of New England edged Wentworth Institute of Technology, 55-52, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action Wednesday evening at the Campus Center.

Winners of 11 of their last 12 contests, the Nor'easters improve to 16-4 overall (7-1 TCCC). The Leopards, who dropped their third straight game, now stand at 8-12 on the season (4-4 TCCC).

Paradis finished with 13 points on the night -- all in the second half -- and added four steals. Bunnell tallied a team-high 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor.

Junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) posted a game-high 18 points for Wentworth, connecting on 72.7 percent (8 of 11) of her field goal attempts. Senior Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass.) chipped in with nine points.

UNE led 50-46 following a Paradis free throw with 2:15 to play, before back-to-back jumpers from first-years Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.) and Morgan Furman (Falmouth, Maine) knotted the score at 50 with 0:58 on the clock.

A Bunnell basket on the next trip down the court put the hosts back in front, and after a Leopards turnover, Bunnell sank one of two from the charity stripe to give the Nor'easters a 53-50 cushion with 17 ticks left.

Paradis stole the ball away on the ensuing Wentworth possession, and classmate Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) made a pair of freebies to seal the victory with seven seconds remaining. Fauci scored on a layup as time expired to settle on the final margin.

After shooting just 20.7 percent (6 for 29) in the opening frame, UNE converted 40 percent (12 of 30) from the floor in the second half. The Nor'easters also outscored their opponents from the foul line, 14-4.

For the game, the visitors shot 52.2 percent (24 for 46) from the field, despite going 0-for-7 from long range. The Leopards were hampered by 25 turnovers.

UNE had the advantage on the scoreboard nearly wire-to-wire, only relinquishing the lead four times for a total of 3:29 the entire contest.

Both teams are in action Saturday. The Nor'easters visit Roger Williams University (1 p.m.), while Wentworth travels to Anna Maria College.