Women’s Basketball Absorbs 76-61 Loss to #18 University of New England

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team fell to nationally-ranked University of New England 76-61 Tuesday evening at the Lahue Physical Education Center.

The Lions slip to 13-11 on the season and 8-9 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Nor'easters, ranked No. 18 in the D3Hoops.com National Poll, improve to 21-3 overall and remain atop the league standings with an unblemished 17-0 mark.

Jessica Franco (Phoenix, Ariz.) posted a career-high 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Jaysa Cooper (Frisco, Texas.) recorded 15 points, seven boards and two blocks. BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) finished with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The visitors sprinted out to an 11-2 advantage midway through the first quarter.

The home side pulled to within eight on a trey by Franco with 1:56 to go in the period, 16-8.

Eastern Nazarene trailed by nine heading into the second stanza, 20-11.

The Lions poured in the first eight points of the second quarter to trim the deficit to one, 20-19, with 7:40 on the clock.

The Nor'easters widened the gap to 34-27 with 1:30 remaining in the second period as Sam MacDonald knocked down the second of two free throw attempts.

Cooper and Fraser both sank jumpers in the final minute of the first half to narrow the margin to three points at the break, 34-31.

Franco paced the Lions at halftime with 12 points while Cooper chipped in with seven points.

Eastern Nazarene posted a field-goal percentage of 40.6% in the opening half and connected on 4-of-14 from deep. The University of New England shot 45.2% from the field in the first frame and came up empty on all six three-point attempts.

The Nor'easters restored their lead to double-figures with 1:25 left to play in the third period on a bucket by Meghan Gribbin, 54-44.

The guests sported a 60-48 edge entering the fourth quarter.

The University of New England maintained its double-digit lead throughout the fourth frame to pick up its 16th win in a row.

The Lions shot 34.4% from the floor and 19.2% from behind the arc on the night. The Nor'easters finished with a field-goal percentage of 47.0% while being limited to 2-for-12 shooting from the perimeter.

Eastern Nazarene closes out the 2015-16 regular season at Nichols February 20.