BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England Nor'easters knocked down 11 three-pointers -- eight in the first half -- on their way to a 79-44 Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology Wednesday evening at James A. Beaudry Gymnasium.
Winners of seven straight, the Nor'easters improve to 14-3 overall and remain atop the CCC standings with a 9-1 mark. The Leopards slip to 1-16, 1-9 in conference play. UNE has now won five straight versus Wentworth and is 15-2 all-time.
Sophomore Lauren Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) made four of Big Blue's 11 treys on her way to a game-best 20 points. Senior Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) contributed 10 points, seven steals, six rebounds and four assists, while classmate Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) and junior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) added nine points apiece and combined for 10 boards.
For Wentworth, sophomore Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 caroms. Junior Jordan Biggar (Beverly, Mass.) converted three 3-point attempts on her way to 13 points.
UNE led from start-to-finish, jumping out to an early, 11-0 start. Rousseau, Russell and Paradis each connected from long range to fuel the spurt.
The Nor'easters continued to surge, reaching their largest lead of the half (49-16) with 2:41 on the clock. Wentworth scored seven unanswered points to close the half, but trailed 49-23 at the break.
UNE shot a blistering 52.6 percent (20 of 38) from the floor for the frame, including an 8-for-18 performance from beyond the arc.
Big Blue cooled off dramatically from the floor after halftime, making a third of its field goal tries (10 of 30). UNE's lead crested at 38 (77-39) on a jumper by sophomore Megan DeRaps (Richmond, Maine) with just over three minutes remaining.
For the game, the Nor'easters held a 43-34 cushion on the glass while forcing 26 Wentworth turnovers. Ten of UNE's 12 players saw at least 12 minutes of playing time.
Next up for Big Blue is a road date Saturday at Salve Regina University. The Leopards host Eastern Nazarene College that same day. Both games are slated to tip-off at 1 p.m.
(Release Courtesy of UNE Sports Information)
UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND 79, WENTWORTH 44
WENTWORTH ((1-16, 1-9 CCC))
Kendra Kerr 6-12 3-4 15; Jordan Biggar 4-14 2-2 13; Ashley Stowe 3-8 0-1 6; Christine Henry 1-2 0-0 3; Danielle Miranda 1-5 0-0 3; Paige Newcomb 1-3 0-2 2; Anne Harris 1-4 0-0 2; Jackie Irwin 0-0 0-0 0; Ashley Conway 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 17-52 5-9 44.
UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND ((14-3, 9-1 CCC))
Lauren Rousseau 7-15 2-4 20; Kelley Paradis 4-9 0-0 10; Beth Suggs 4-6 1-2 9; Margo Russell 4-7 0-0 9; Liz LeBlanc 3-5 0-0 8; Kelly Coleman 2-8 2-2 7; Kendra Dawless 2-5 2-2 6; Lauren Foti 2-5 0-1 5; Kari Pelletier 1-2 1-1 3; Megan DeRaps 1-3 0-0 2; Whitney Moore 0-2 0-0 0; Margaret Carlson 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 30-68 8-14 79.
Wentworth..................... 23 21 - 44
Univ. of New England.......... 49 30 - 79
3-point goals--Wentworth 5-14 (Jordan Biggar 3-5; Danielle Miranda 1-2; Christine Henry 1-2; Ashley Conway 0-3; Paige Newcomb 0-2), Univ. of New England 11-30 (Lauren Rousseau 4-10; Liz LeBlanc 2-4; Kelley Paradis 2-6; Margo Russell 1-2; Kelly Coleman 1-1; Lauren Foti 1-3; Whitney Moore 0-2; Megan DeRaps 0-1; Kari Pelletier 0-1). Fouled out--Wentworth-None, Univ. of New England-None. Rebounds--Wentworth 34 (Kendra Kerr 10), Univ. of New England 43 (Whitney Moore 6; Kelley Paradis 6). Assists--Wentworth 13 (Kendra Kerr 3; Danielle Miranda 3), Univ. of New England 21 (Kari Pelletier 5). Total fouls--Wentworth 13, Univ. of New England 7. Technical fouls--Wentworth-None, Univ. of New England-None. A-100
