Nor'easters run past Rams for third straight win

Senior Sara Pelkey was 6 of 8 from the floor and had eight rebounds in UNE's win

Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior forward Sara Pelkey (Barre, Vt.) scored a game-high 13 points to lead four University of New England players in double figures, as the Nor'easters won their third straight contest with an 82-49 non-conference victory over Framingham State College in college women's basketball action Wednesday night at the Campus Center.

The game went back-and-forth in the early stages before UNE first-year guard Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) hit consecutive three-pointers to help key a 7-0 run and give the Nor'easters a 21-14 lead midway through the frame.

The Rams were able to recover and close within three (21-18), but the Nor'easters closed the half with a 14-4 spurt over the final 5:20 to take a 38-24 cushion into intermission.

UNE made 6 of 11 three-point shots in the opening 20 minutes and held a 21-13 margin on the boards to help overcome 11 turnovers.

The Nor'easters came out the locker room roaring in the second half, reeling off nine unanswered points over the opening 2:20 to establish a commanding 47-24 lead.  Pelkey had a pair of lay-ups during that stretch, and Paradis knocked down her fourth trey of the contest.

UNE's advantage crested at 38 (76-38) with 4:58 remaining.  The Nor'easters limited Framingham State to 24.3 percent (9 of 37) shooting from the floor after halftime.

Paradis and first-year forward Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) scored 12 points apiece for UNE, while first-year guard Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) came off the bench to tally 10.  Russell and Pelkey each grabbed eight rebounds and Paradis collared seven.  Senior point guard Alli Gamache (Dudley, Mass.) added a game-high five assists.

Nine of UNE's 13 players in uniform scored six or more points, as the Nor'easters utilized good ball movement to register 22 assists on 27 field goals.

Junior forward Toya Chester (Leominster, Mass.) had 12 points and a pair of blocked shots for the Rams.  Senior guard Allie Hart (Somerset, Mass.) pitched in with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.  Sophomore forward Jill Johnson (Mansfield, Mass.) came down with a game-high nine boards and had three steals.

UNE (5-3) concludes first-semester play Saturday with a road contest at UMaine Farmington (1:00 p.m.).  The Rams (4-5) are off until after the holidays when they play at Anna Maria College on Jan. 6.