Women's Basketball Pushes First-Place UNE Before Falling, 56-46

Women's Basketball Pushes First-Place UNE Before Falling, 56-46
BIDDEFORD, Maine - First-year Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) scored 12 of her game-high 17 points after halftime to help the University of New England overcome a two-point deficit, as the Nor'easters won their 10th straight contest with a 56-46 victory over Curry College in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action Tuesday (Jan. 29) evening at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Nor'easters retain a three-game lead over Roger Williams University in the conference standings (12-0 CCC) while upping their overall mark to 15-4. Curry drops below .500 at 9-10 and is 5-7 in league play. UNE has won the last eight meetings between the two squads.

Gribbin was 6 of 8 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, en route to her career-best 17 points. Senior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) racked up her 13 double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. She was 8 of 9 at the free throw line. Sophomore Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) chipped in 10 points, seven boards and three assists.

For Curry, sophomore Kylie Beltz (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) led the way with 13 points. Classmate Samantha Corcoran had 10 points, six caroms and a pair of blocked shots.

Trailing 23-21 at the break, UNE opened the second half with a 13-7 run to establish a 36-28 lead. Gribbin and Coleman combined for nine points during that stretch.

The Colonels answered with eight unanswered points to tie the score at 36 before a three-pointer by UNE first-year Alanna Vose (Cushing, Maine) gave Big Blue the lead (39-36) for good with 9:27 remaining.

The Nor'easters went on to score 11 of the next 12 points to put the game out of reach.

Each team struggled to get their respsective offenses in sync over the opening 20 minutes. Curry committed 15 turnovers in the opening stanza, while UNE had 12 and shot just 24.2 percent (8 of 33) from the floor.

For the game, UNE was 15 of 57 (29.8 percent) on its field goal attempts and connected on only 5 of 25 from downtown. The Nor'easters turned 18 offensive rebounds in 13 second-chance points, however, and held a 17-7 advantage at the free throw line.

Thursday both teams play CCC home games starting at 5:30 p.m. The Nor'easters face Gordon College and Curry entertains Roger Williams University. (Game recap courtesy of UNE Sports Information)