BIDDEFORD, Maine—The University of New England took control of momentum in the second quarter and never looked back in an 84-48 win over Gordon in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday evening. Sarah Gibbs (Elizabethtown, Pa.) was the only Scots in double-figures with 10 points with a 5-for-5 shooting night from the floor.
Gordon drops to 5-9 overall and 3-4 in the CCC, losing its third straight game after a win over Nichols last week. The Nor'easters secured its fifth CCC victory and eighth win overall.
The young Scots didn't show any fear against the four-time defending CCC champion Nor'easters at the start. Gordon kept the game close in the period, taking leads on two separate occasions and never trailing by more than three points until Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H.) hit two free throws with 20 seconds to go before the end of the first.
UNE held a 23-19 lead after one, but broke open the game in the second quarter as Gordon's offense went silent. The Nor'easters scored 15 straight points to begin the second, while the Fighting Scots were unable to score a point for over seven minutes. UNE outscored the Scots 17-4 to take a commanding 40-23 advantage at the half.
Gordon was able to chip away at the UNE lead in the third, cutting it to a 15-point deficit several times. The three ball was kind to the Fighting Scots in the period, but Gordon was never able to get closer than 47-32. The Nor'easters continued to pressure Gordon in the three-quarter court despite the hefty lead and turned a handful of turnovers into 29 points through three periods.
UNE controlled the final period to register its 16th consecutive win over the Fighting Scots.
Gibbs finished a couple of boards short of the double-double with seven, while also leading the team in assists (4) and steals (3). Alisha Henderson (Oregon City, Ore.) had nine points in a starting role, while Olivia Stark (Arvada, Colo.) came off the bench to hit all three of her attempts from deep.
UNE had an even attack with six players in double-digits led by their senior forward Brown with 14. The Nor'easters top player also had seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Nine of UNE's 11 participants had at least five points with Laura Holman leading the bench players with 12. The Nor'easters held heavy advantages in points in the paint, second-chance points and points off of turnovers, leading to the big score in the second half.
The Scots will have a few days off before hosting conference-leading Roger Williams (7-0 CCC) on Saturday.
