Women’s Hoops Drops Midweek Clash at Nationally-Ranked University of New England, 70-60

BIDDEFORD, Maine- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team absorbed 70-60 loss its first league game of the season at No. 23/20 University of New England Wednesday evening.

The Lions fall to 0-6 on the year and 0-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Nor'easters improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play with the win.

Mhiah Vickers (Westlake Village, Calif.) poured in a game-high 27 points while adding seven boards, four assists, three steals and one block. Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.) finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a block. Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.) notched eight points and six boards while Courtney Houston (Santa Barbara, Calif.) chipped in with seven points and Jordan Grays (Elk Grove, Calif.) hauled in seven rebounds.

The hosts used a 10-0 run to break a 7-7 tie and claim a 17-7 lead with 12:24 left to play on a layup by Meghan Gribbin.

Eastern Nazarene responded with 10 unanswered points to grab a 24-20 advantage as Greer banked in a layup with 5:09 remaining in the half.

Both teams recorded 26 first-half points as they headed into the halftime intermission knotted at 26-26.

Vickers paced the guests at the break with 10 points while Greer and Salazar had each netted six points.

Eastern Nazarene shot 35.5% from the floor in the opening frame and 25% from long distance. The University of New England sported a field-goal percentage of 39.3% at the midway point of the contest while coming up empty from behind the arc on five attempts.

The Nor'easters strung together an 11-0 run to start the second stanza to establish a 37-26 edge with 17:06 to go.

The Lions cut the deficit to seven with 13:11 remaining as Vickers sank a layup, 44-37.

The visitors pulled to within five on a jumper by Greer with 5:22 on the clock, 61-56.

The University of New England converted four free throws in the final minute of the game to secure its first conference victory of the season.

The Lions connected on 41.1% of their shot attempts on the night and drained 3-of-13 attempts from behind the arc. The Nor'easters finished with a field-goal percentage of 42.6% while shooting 37.5% from three-point range.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will make its home debut December 6 against Curry.