Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Led by red-hot shooting by sophomore Rachael Mack (Augusta, Maine) and senior Alison Cappelloni (Sudbury, Mass.), Colby College defeated the University of New England, 74-64, in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday evening at the Campus Center.

The duo combined to shoot 18 for 25 from the floor, accounting for 42 points on the night. Mack went for 22 points and eight boards, while Cappelloni finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds.

Trailing 2-0 in the early moments, the Mules used a 16-2 spurt in just under five minutes to take control of the game. The Nor'easters fell behind by making 1 of 9 field goal attempts during the stretch and committing four turnovers.

Colby's lead grew to as many as 17 with 1:53 left in the opening half, and led 39-25 at the break. Cappelloni had 15 points as the visitors connected on 48.6 percent (17-for-35) of their shot attempts in the first period, while UNE made just 27.6 percent (8 of 29) and went 1-for-8 (25 percent) from long range.

The Mules quickly increased their advantage to 23 (53-30) by the 15:58 mark of the second, paced by Mack who notched her team's first nine points of the frame. Classmate Jil Vaughan (Wareham, Mass.), who scored all 11 of her points after intermission, tallied Colby's next five points.

A 21-4 run across the next eight minutes reduced the margin to six (57-51). Junior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) came alive to score 10 of her 12 second half points during the stretch, and UNE's defensive pressure forced seven Colby turnovers to help the Nor'easters get back within striking distance.

Back-to-back baskets by Vaughan ended the momentum swing and restored the Mules' double-digit lead (61-51) with 5:57 remaining, and the UNE could not recover.

Vaughan also had eight caroms for Colby (5-1), which held a 50-39 edge in rebounding for the game. Junior Julianne Kowalski (Montville, N.J.) chipped in the six points, nine boards, and three blocks. Sophomore point guard Aarika Ritchie (Lee, Maine) recorded 10 assists.

Sophomore Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) scored a team-high 19 points for UNE (5-3), which shot 29.2 percent (19-for-65) from the field in the contest. Bunnell finished with 14 points, and first-year Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) pulled down 11 rebounds.

Both teams play their final game before winter break on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Mules visit UMaine Presque Isle, while the Nor'easters will entertain UMaine Farmington.