Box Score BIDDEFORD, Maine – Junior Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) scored all 16 of her team-high points in the second half to lead the University of New England Nor'easters to a nip-and-tuck 66-62 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference women's basketball game Tuesday night at the Harold Alfond Forum.
With the win, the Nor'easters remain undefeated at 3-0. Southern Maine suffers its first loss of the season to stand at 2-1. With neither team ever leading by more than six points, the game was closely contested throughout the 40 minutes, featuring six lead changes and eight tie scores.
Trailing the Huskies 55-50 with 4:05 to play, the Nor'easters used a 7-0 run to snag a 57-55 lead with 2:47 on the clock and held on for the win. Coleman was instrumental in UNE's rally, scoring five of her points. Coleman started the run with a three-pointer before snagging an offensive rebound, drawing the foul and sinking a pair of free throws to put her team ahead.
Southern Maine junior forward Rebecca Knight (Alfred, Maine/McAuley) pulled the Huskies' even with UNE with a pair of free throws in the Huskies' next possession, but Coleman answered with three straight points on one of two free throws and a layup for a 60-57 Nor'easter advantage with 1:19 to play. The Nor'easters would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way to earn the victory.
Coleman led three UNE players in double figures, shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Freshman Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H./Portsmouth) and sophomore Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine/Medomak Valley) each chipped 11 points, while Brown led UNE with eight rebounds.
Senior guard Erin McNamara (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) led three Huskies in double figures with a game-high 20 points. Sophomore Megan Pelletier (Winslow, Maine/Messalonskee) added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Knight finished with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Southern Maine was hampered by a sub-par shooting percentage. The Huskies shot just 33.3 percent (21-for-63) from the floor and 3-for-15 from three-point range. Conversely, UNE shot a solid 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the floor and were boosted by 15 offensive rebounds.
Southern Maine hosts Keene State College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) in its Little East Conference opener. University of New England hosts Colby College on Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) in a non-conference game.
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