WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Basketball fell to top Commonwealth Coast Conference team UNE, 48-29 at the Bennett Center on Wednesday night. The Fighting Scots held UNE to a season-low 48 points in CCC play, but could only muster 10 made shots from the floor against a great Nor'easter defense. UNE improves to 14-1 in the CCC, while Gordon falls to 1-14 this season in the conference.
 
Points came at a premium in the first half with both teams turning in season-low scoring at the same 20-minute span. The Fighting Scots could only score two points over the first 13 minutes, while UNE grabbed a 12-2 lead during the opening run. However, Gordon was able to frustrate the longer Nor'easters with a physical defensive effort to keep themselves within a few points.
 
The Fighting Scots found a bit of a scoring touch in the closing minutes and trailed 14-9 after the first half. Only UNE's Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) managed more than three points in the period, scoring six on 2-of-4 shooting. Gordon was highlighted by Sophie Linnell's (Richmond, Va.) seven first-half rebounds.
 
The Nor'easters came out storming in the second half, showing why they have been the unquestioned best team in the CCC this season. UNE scored 17 points in the first seven minutes of the second half—three more than their entire first-half total— and jumped out to a 31-12 advantage.
 
Gordon was able to get the offense going in the waning minutes of regulation, but UNE's early second-half run held true for a 48-29 loss on its home court.
 
Coleman led all scorers with 15 points, including a 7-of-9 mark at the charity stripe. Sadie DiPierro (South Portland, Maine) and Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H.) both had strong second halves, finishing with eight and seven points apiece. Brown paced the defensive effort with 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. UNE guards Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) and Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) combined for seven steals as well.
 
As a team, UNE outrebounded Gordon 48-39 for the game with 15 offensive boards.
 
Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.) each chipped in seven points to lead Gordon. Kratche also added two blocks and four steals in the loss. Linnell finished with nine rebounds, but only two coming after halftime.
 
UNE is back in action on Saturday at home against Nichols, while Gordon meets up with Salve Regina in Newport, R.I. for a 1 p.m. start on the same day.