Gamache tallies a career-high 20 to lead Nor'easters

January 10, 2008 - 08:38 PM

Alli Gamache torched the Monks for a career-best 20 points in a 77-62 victory

The junior point guard fuels UNE in a 77-62 non-conference victory over St. Joseph's

STANDISH, Maine -- University of New England point guard Alli Gamache '09 (Dudley, Mass.) scored a career-best 20 points in the Nor'easters' 77-62 non-conference women's basketball win over the Saint Joseph's College Thursday evening at the Harold Alfond Center.

The win propels the Nor'easters back over the .500 mark at 6-5, while the Monks dip to 7-4.

The Nor'easters went on a 15-2 run to end the first half and took a 38-18 lead into the locker room. UNE was never seriously threatened in the second half, leading by as many as 23 points with 5:09 remaining and only allowing the lead to get below double-digits once.

Throughout the first half, UNE lead consistently, as they were paced by Hesketh's eight points and Bunnell's seven, but a three-pointer from Gamache with 4:02 remaining spiked the Nor'easter offense and they went on a run to end the half.

UNE outshot the Monks by nearly 20 percent from the field and hit 7 of 10 from the free throw line in the first half.

St. Joe's came out firing in the second half, starting the frame on a 10-2 run led by Carolyn Freeman '09 (Scarborough, Maine), who had a team-high 14 points in the game and kept it close for the first five minutes.

The Monks would get as close as eight (49-41) on a three-pointer by Kayla Boston '11 (North Berwick, Maine), but UNE guard Chelsey Meszaros '11 (North Clarendon, Vt.) hit a three and Heather Linnell '09 (Portland, Maine) canned a jumper to squash any hopes of a Monk comeback.

Carrie Bunnell '11 (Barnet, Vt.) contributed 14 points and seven rebounds for the Nor'easters, while Marissa Hesketh '08 (Tolland, Conn.) scored in double-digits with 10. Linnell '09 (Portland, Maine) provided an inside presence all night , contributing a team-high nine rebounds to go with eight rebounds, both outputs establishing career highs.

UNE played the contest without its starting frontcourt tandem of Sara Pelkey '09 (Barre, Vt.) and Katie Diggins '10 (Merrimack, N.H.).

Allison Miner '10 (Pembroke, N.H.) had nine of her 11 points after halftime for the Monks, while Meghan Daigle '10 (Lebanon, N.H.) pulled down nine rebounds.

Both teams open up their respective conference schedules Saturday. The Nor'easters head to Henniker, N.H. for a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game versus New England College (1:00 p.m.). St. Joe's hosts Great North Atlantic Conference foe St. Joseph College of Connecticut (1:00 p.m.).

(posted Jan. 10, 2008 | 21:50 ET - edited Jan. 11, 2008 | 08:06 ET)