Box Score

MILTON, Mass. -- The University of New England Nor'easters closed the first half with 15 unanswered points to break open a tight game on their way to a 68-55 victory over Curry College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action Tuesday evening (Jan. 20).

With their seventh consecutive win, the Nor'easters improved to 12-2 overall while maintaining a two-game lead in the conference standings with an unblemished mark of 9-0. UNE, which has won the last 11 meetings with Curry (9-7, 6-3 CCC), extended its string of victories versus CCC opponents to 22.

Lauren Hayden scored a game-high 18 points to lead the way for UNE. She was 6-for-9 from the floor and added three steals. Meghan Gribbin supported with 13 points, four assists and three steals, while Alanna Vose chipped in 11 points. Kelly Coleman grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds to go with nine points.

Kerry White posted a double-double for Curry, finishing with 12 points and 12 boards. Kylie Beltz recorded a team-high 14 points, and Shannon Griffith had 12. Beltz and Griffith also combined for 15 caroms.

With the score tied at 20, UNE reeled off the final 15 points of the first half to take a 35-20 lead into intermission. Coleman tallied eight straight points over a span of 2:20 to help fuel the spurt, and the Nor'easters held Curry scoreless over the final 8:24 of the frame.

Big Blue would score the initial three points after halftime to assume its biggest lead (18 at 38-20) of the evening. The Colonels got as close as seven (42-35) at the 14:03 mark, but UNE quickly pushed the lead back up to double digits and cruised the rest of the way.

The Nor'easters forced 24 Curry turnovers to help overcome a 44-37 deficit in the rebounding department.

UNE will head to Waterville on Thursday for a 7 p.m. non-conference game at Colby College.