Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The University of New England scored the game's last 11 points to come away with a 61-54 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory over Western New England University in the women's basketball regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17) at the AHL Center.

With their seventh consecutive result, the Nor'easters (20-5, 16-2 CCC) clinch the No.1 seed for the upcoming CCC Championship that starts Tuesday. Big Blue will host eighth-seeded Eastern Nazarene College beginning at 7 p.m. in the Harold Alfond Forum. [Interactive Bracket]

It marks the 10th straight season of at least 20 wins under 11th-year head coach Anthony Ewing; UNE is one of five programs in Division III with an active streak of as many years. It is also the seventh campaign in-a-row that the Nor'easters hold the top spot entering the postseason tournament (6 outright regular-season titles).

From a 27-27 score at the half, the Golden Bears (16-9, 12-6 CCC) went up by seven on three occasions in the latter stages of the 3rd quarter (35-28, 37-30, 41-34). The last came inside the final minute, but a last-second trey from Elyssa Nicholas trimmed the gap to four (41-37) entering the 4th.

After briefly taking the lead (47-46), the Nor'easters found themselves down 54-50 with under three minutes to go. However, UNE recorded at least one point on their last six possessions while defending WNEU perfectly (0-for-5 field goals, 1 turnover) to flip the advantage.

Olivia Shaw scored 11 of Big Blue's 24 in the 4th, and finished with game-highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds, to go with three steals. Sam MacDonald totaled 13 points, Nicholas had nine, and Jocelyn Chaput went for eight points and eight caroms. The Nor'easters had a 37-28 edge on the glass, and shot 16-of-18 at the line to out-score Western New England by eight.

The Golden Bears received 16 points from Emily Farrell, and 10 more out of Meghan Orbann.