Statistics

DUDLEY, Mass. – The University of New England built a first-half lead and later closed out a 56-42 women's basketball victory over Nichols College in Saturday afternoon's Conference of New England meeting inside the Nichols Athletic Center.
 
The Nor'easters (8-9, 6-2) – winners of five of their last six – held the Bison (9-10, 2-8) to shoot just 16-for-61 from the floor, allowing only five made field goals during the first half. That strong defensive start allowed UNE to a carry a 14-point lead into the second half, where the lead was dwindled to six in the fourth quarter before a late 6-0 UNE run helped secure the victory.
 
Maddy Werner was the only UNE player to score in double figures, posting a team-high 12 points in just 18 minutes. Grace Boucher scored nine, having gone 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Kaia Anderson was just a bucket shy of a double-double, finishing with eight points and a game-best 10 rebounds. The Nor'easters owned the glass to the tune of a 50-34 rebounding edge, despite the Bison having a slight 13-12 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Nichols' Alyvia Smith led all scorers with 14, while Rylee Barrieault followed with 12. The Bison had not shot better than 25 percent in any quarter until the fourth, where they were 7-for-16, allowing them to gain some ground, but not enough to come within one possession.
 
UNE's 43-30 lead with 6:37 remaining in the fourth was quickly trimmed to 43-37 after Nichols put up points on three straight trips. The Nor'easters then made each of their next three attempts as Gabby Soter, Werner and Emily Picher scored on consecutive possessions, once again providing a double-digit lead (49-37). The Nor'easters were 7-for-8 at the line throughout the game's final two minutes to lock down the win.
 
The triumph upped UNE's all-time record against Nichols to 32-2.
 
The Nor'easters are back in Biddeford for two at home, beginning with Curry on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m.