Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine – First-year forward Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) and senior guard Alli Gamache (Dudley, Mass.) scored 15 points apiece as the University of New England coasted past New England College, 84-48, in the Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for each team Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.

The Nor'easters (8-5, 1-0 TCCC) stormed out in the first 3:14 of the contest, establishing a 13-2 advantage behind a pair of three-pointers from Gamache and a pair of baskets from senior Sara Pelkey (Barre, Vt.).  UNE continued its offensive attack to take a 49-27 lead into intermission.

Russell tallied all 15 of her points in the first frame, going 9-for-10 from the charity stripe and corralling six rebounds.  The Nor'easters took advantage of a 26-14 difference in rebounds and shooting 20-for-24 from the free throw line.  Pilgrims' junior Kendall Wolfson (Lyndeborough, N.H.) scored all of her team-high nine points in the opening half.

UNE came out fast again in the second half, surrendering four early points before going on a 16-0 run to grab a 68-31 lead with 11:59 remaining.  Six different Nor'easters scored during the stretch.  NEC would outscore the hosts by one point the rest of the way to settle on the final margin of 36.

Sophomore Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) finished with 11 points and first-year Hillary Laferriere (Veazie, Maine) matched her career high in rebounds with 14.  All 12 players in uniform for the Nor'easters found their way into the scoring column.

Ashley Hutton (Lebanon, N.H.), Katie Plankey (Columbia, Conn.), and Hallie Price (South Beach, Ore.) each scored eight points for the Pilgrims (6-6, 0-1 TCCC), who visit Colby-Sawyer College on Tuesday. 

The Nor'easters will look for their third consecutive win the same day when they travel to Curry College for a 6:00 p.m. conference matchup.