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Highlights

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Sydney Jenisch and Maddy Werner combined for 46 points to help the University of New England women's basketball team earn an 81-74 win over Nichols in Saturday afternoon's Conference of New England tilt inside the Harold Alfond Forum.
 
Jenisch led all scorers with 24 points, while Werner, in addition to her 22 points, matched the game high with 10 rebounds to tally her second double-double in the Nor'easters' last four outings. Those two, along with Faye Veilleux's 15 points, helped UNE overcome a six-point, second-quarter deficit to lead at halftime and maintain the advantage the rest of the way.
 
Werner's 22 points came in efficient fashion, with the first-year going 8-for-12 from the field and 6-for-9 at the charity stripe. The Nor'easters were only 3-for-18 from beyond the arc, but racked up 36 free throws (26-for-36), while the Bison were just 4-for-10 on freebies. UNE also claimed a 49-39 advantage on the glass, thanks in part to Werner and Kaia Anderson, who pulled down 10 boards apiece.
 
Jenisch hit two of UNE's three triples, including one during a 10-2 run late in the second quarter that sent the Nor'easters into the break with a 33-31 lead, having trailed for much of the first half. Nichols hot shooting, marked by a 4-for-10 showing from deep in the first quarter, helped the Bison jump out to a 20-16 lead in the opening frame. The strong shooting didn't last, however, as the visitors were 0-for-11 from long range between the middle two quarters.
 
Nichols, which was paced by Abrianna Vazquez's 21 points, ramped up its defensive pressure in the third quarter and cut a 43-35 deficit to just 45-44, but strong free throw shooting helped the Nor'easters escape the third and enter the final stretch with a 56-52 edge.
 
UNE had the game's first double-digit lead (64-54) at the 7:51 mark of the fourth when Jenisch scored off of a Nichols turnover. The Bison answered with Alyvia Smith's 3-pointer on the other end, and within less than three minutes, the visitors were within a possession, 68-65. Werner then scored on three straight UNE trips, putting the Nor'easters back on top by 10 (75-65).
 
Refusing to go away, Nichols cut the lead to 77-74 with a 7-0 run capped off by a Vazquez bucket with 36 seconds remaining. UNE was able to hit enough free throws, all while holding the Bison scoreless, through crunch time to close out the victory.
 
Now with three straight wins to their credit, the Nor'easters host Curry on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for their final home game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.