UNE pulls away from Salve Regina late for seventh straight win

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior forward Katie Diggins (Merrimack, N.H.) posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the University of New England to a 68-54 victory over Salve Regina University in The Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.

Winners of seven consecutive games, the Nor'easters improve to 12-3 on the season, 3-0 in league play. The Seahawks saw their three-game win streak come to an end, falling to 7-7 (2-1 TCCC).

Diggins went 5-for-7 from the floor and made 9-of-11 from the charity stripe en route to her game-high 19. Juniors Lyndie Libby (Buxton, Maine) and Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) and sophomore Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) each added 10 points for UNE. Pelletier also picked up four steals.

Junior Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) tallied 16 points, nine boards, and four steals for Salve Regina. Freshman Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) chipped in with 12 points, five assists, and five steals.

A Bunnell layup with 12:07 left in regulation broke a 40-all tie and gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.

UNE still led by two (49-47) 3:18 later, before an 8-2 spurt pushed the margin to eight (57-49) with just over four minutes to play. The Nor'easters went 11 for 15 at the line in the final moments to put the game away.

In the second half, UNE made 21 of 26 (80.8 percent) free throw attempts.

After six lead changes in the first 11:19 of the opening frame, the Seahawks held a 17-15 advantage. The Nor'easters followed with a 16-3 run over a five minute period to grab a 31-20 lead late in the first half.

Salve Regina closed the stanza with seven straight points to reduce the deficit to four (31-27) by intermission.

UNE is off until Wednesday when it travels to Quincy, Mass. for a 6 p.m. match against Eastern Nazarene College. The Seahawks host Nichols College the same day.

Courtesy of UNE sports information