Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The University of New England scored 51 points after intermission to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit and defeat Brandeis University, 81-77, in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday evening Red Auerbach Arena.

Winners of three straight, the Nor'easters now hold an 8-3 mark. The Judges, who recently fell out of the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll after being ranked as high as No. 9 in the season, stand at 7-3.

Trailing 42-30 at the break, UNE put together a 13-3 spurt in the opening 4:15 of the second period to get back into the game. Sophomore Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) scored the middle seven points during the stretch.

The Brandeis cushion fluctuated between two and six for the next eight minutes before a pair of free throws by sophomore Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) and a trey from Paradis gave the visitors their first advantage of the contest (61-59) with 7:08 to play.

After five straight points from the Judges and an exchange of baskets, junior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) knocked down her third three-pointer of the game to give the Nor'easters the lead for good (67-65).

UNE converted on 10 of 12 attempts from the charity stripe in the final 3:45 to hold on for the victory.

The Nor'easters shot 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from the floor and was 83.3 percent (5 of 6) from long distance in the second frame, while making 22 of their 27 free throws. Meanwhile, Brandeis managed just 31.8 percent (12-for-38) in the half after missing its first nine attempts from the field.

Paradis totaled a team-high 20 points for UNE -- 14 of which came in the second period -- and senior Katie Diggins (Merrimack, N.H.) chipped in with 14. Sophomore Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) went 10-for-14 from the free throw line to finish with 12 points, and added eight boards.

Junior Chelsey Meszaros (North Clarendon, Vt.) was perfect from long range (3-for-3) and the free throw line (2 of 2) to tally 11 points off the bench. Pelletier and Bunnell each finished with nine points, combining for 15 in the final stanza.

Guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y.) recorded a game-high 29 points and pulled down nine rebounds to pace the Judges. The senior registered 23 points before halftime, including the 138th three-pointer of her career -- a new school record.

Junior Amber Strodthoff (DePere, Wisc.) posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 caroms, and sophomore Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass.) also scored 15 for Brandeis.

As a team, the Judges collected 24 offensive boards for the game and out-rebounded UNE, 42-31.

In the first period, Chapin scored nine consecutive points early on as Brandeis built an 18-6 lead seven minutes into the game . The margin was pushed as high as 18 points (35-17) with just under six minutes left in the half, before the Nor'easters reduced it back to 12 by intermission.

UNE visits Thomas College for a non-conference match Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. The Judges return to action Saturday for their University Athletic Association (UAA) opener at New York University (2 p.m.).