BRUNSWICK – Katie Bergeron scored 18 points and keyed a 14-0 first-half run that helped third-seeded Bowdoin defeat No. 6 Bates 69-51 Saturday in the New England Small College Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals.

The game was tied 10-10 midway through the first half when Jill Henrikson fed Nicole Coombes for a basket to put the Polar Bears (21-4) ahead.

Bergeron scored after a steal by Colleen Sweeney and then hit two free throws off an offensive rebound to make it 16-10.

Henrikson drove the baseline before dishing a pass out to Sweeney for a 3-pointer, and Bates Coach Jim Murphy called a timeout with 6:40 left and his team suddenly down by nine.

But after the Bobcats (17-8) committed their 10th turnover, Bergeron hit a 3-pointer before Henrikson sank two foul shots to give Bowdoin a 24-10 lead.

Jessie Igoe, who led Bates with 13 points, finally broke the run off a pick and roll with Annie Burns but with four minutes left in the half, Bates had more turnovers (13) than points (12) and trailed by 12 points.

Bowdoin led 33-20 at halftime after forcing 17 turnovers.

“We really were focused on defense,” said Bowdoin Coach Adrienne Shibles. “We worked on it all week and the girls really brought their defensive intensity.

“The key was taking away their inside game and not letting them get into their offense.”

“It was definitely a team effort,” said Bergeron. “… Our forwards did a great job on their forwards and our scoring was spread out (with four players in double figures).

“We’re completely different teams. We’re a little undersized so we have to play to our strength and use our quickness.”

Two 3-pointers by Burns helped Bates pull to within 35-28 early in the second half, but Coombes (10 points) scored twice inside off smart feeds from Henrikson and Alexa Barry.

“They ran their offense very well,” said Murphy. “They penetrate and make good decisions with the ball.”

After Bergeron got assists on four consecutive baskets that pushed Bowdoin’s lead to 51-35, but Bates made one more run.

Igoe scored twice inside and added a free throw, and Taryn O’Connell (10 points) hit a 3-pointer to make it 53-43.

But Barry (13 points) hit two free throws and fed Amy Hackett underneath to make it 57-43, and Bergeron hit a pair of 3-pointers and Sweeney added one as the Polar Bears pulled away.

“Our kids played hard but there was never a point where we felt they were not in control,” said Murphy. “We turned the ball over too much and didn’t finish our plays.”