Statistics

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Gabby Soter, Keagan Dunbar, and Juliana Tracey combined for 74 points as the University of New England chalked up a 94-88 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball victory over Nichols College at the NC Athletics Center on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11).

Things were tied five times in the 4th quarter (75, 77, 79, 81, 83) before the Nor'easters got a hoop from Dunbar and another by Soter to lead 87-83 with 2:02 remaining. While Abrianna Vazquez sliced the deficit in half on the next possession for the Bison, layups from Tracey and Dunbar gave the visitors enough breathing room with 0:57 left.

UNE (16-7, 12-4 CCC) maintains its one-game cushion on third place in the conference standings with the result, ahead of Wednesday's second-to-last regular-season outing in Biddeford against Curry College (2-14 CCC).

Soter improved upon her previous scoring high by three, totaling 25 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocks. Dunbar finished one shy of her best with 25 points, and notched her second double-double in seven days with a game-high 13 caroms. Tracey tossed in 24 points -- a career high by four -- and dished out five assists. Kaitlyn Santos supported with standout performance of her own, going for a first career double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Nor'easters shot 44 percent from the field, outscored Nichols by 11 at the line (25-14), and had a 54-42 rebounding advantage -- all to help overcome 31 turnovers under the pressure from the Bison. 

Vazquez led all players with 31 points for the hosts, on top of five assists and four steals. Alyvia Smith recorded 15 points with 11 boards, and Leandra Ortiz added 12 points. Kiera Fernandes contributed 11 points prior to fouling out midway through the 4th.

Nichols (7-16, 5-11) attempted 27 shots above that of the visiting squad, but only connected at a 35 percent rate (34-for-97).

UNE had an edge most of the 1st period, but a 19-5 start to the 2nd by the Bison provided the home team with its largest lead (35-22). Erin Cann tallied all of her eight points in the stretch for NC.

The Nor'easters notched the last four leading into intermission and the first five of the 3rd to pull back within two (48-46) -- capped by the fourth trey from Dunbar. However, UNE needed seven straight just to tie things at 67-all. A Soter triple wrapped the frame with another seven in-a-row and established a 74-71 cushion. Out of the team's 33 points in the quarter, Tracey accounted for 13.

Tracey and Soter ultimately scored 17 points apiece during the last 20 minutes of action.