Women’s Basketball Drops CCC Opener to University of New England, 69-54

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene women's basketball suffered a 69-54 setback to the University of New England Wednesday evening at the Lahue Physical Education Center in the opening Commonwealth Coast Conference game of the season.

The Lions slip to 3-3 on the year and 0-1 in league action with the result. The Nor'easters improve to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference with the win.

Christina Saint-Pierre (Lantana, Fla.) registered a double-double, finishing with a career-best 14 points and 10 rebounds. Michelle Herrera (Santa Barbara, Calif.) poured in 13 points on the night. Ruby Leon (Fairfield, Calif.) recorded 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in the game.

Herrera netted seven of the home team's first eight points of the contest as the Lions' held an 8-6 lead with 15:53 remaining in the first half.

The visitors responded with a 10-0 run to claim an 18-10 advantage with 11:29 left to play in the half.

Eastern Nazarene chipped into the deficit, narrowing the margin to five points on a jump shot by Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.).

The University of New England stretched its lead to 11 points with under six minutes to go on a trey by Alanna Vose, 29-18.

The Lions trailed the Nor'easters 39-28 at the halftime intermission.

Herrera led Eastern Nazarene at the midway point of the game with 10 points while Leon added six. Jasmine Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) hauled in eight first-half rebounds while Saint-Pierre grabbed six boards.

The Lions shot 40.7% from the floor in the first half and drained 2-of-4 attempts from beyond the arc. The Nor'easters sank 34.1% of their shots in the opening frame, including 3-of-11 from long distance.

The visitors extended their advantage to 21 points with 9:56 left to play on a jump shot by Meghan Gribbin, 58-37.

The University of New England maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half to secure its first league victory of the season.

Gribbin paced the Nor'easters with 15 points on the night while Sadie DiPierro and Kelly Coleman each contributed with 11 points.

Eastern Nazarene finished with a field-goal percentage of 42.3% on the evening after shooting 44.0% from the floor in the second stanza. The University of New England connected on 33.3% of its field-goal attempts in the contest, including 29.2% from beyond the arc.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene hits the road for a Commonwealth Coast Conference tilt at Endicott December 7.