DUDLEY, Mass. — Thornton Academy graduate Olivia Shaw poured in 9-of-10 shots from the field and was the only player in double figures with 23 points, leading the University of New England to a 72-31 Commonwealth Coast Conference women’s basketball victory over Nichols College on Tuesday evening.
The Nor’easters (9-3, 6-0 CCC) led the entire way in the result, and have now topped the Bison (1-12, 0-6 CCC) in 13 consecutive meetings.
Shaw’s scoring output exceeded her personal-best by three, and she added in a team-high five assists. Alicia Brown contributed nine points and six blocks, and Brooke Flaherty tossed in another seven points – one of the eight UNE players to tally at least five. Lauren Hayden corralled a game-high seven rebounds for the visitors, who held a 47-36 advantage in the category.
Big Blue paired its effective offense (49.1-percent field goals) with a defensive effort that held Nichols to 17.5 percent shooting accuracy (10 of 57) and forced 24 turnovers.
The Bison received seven points and five steals from Taylor Daniels, while Jessica Kelliher had six assists and five rebounds.
A 14-3 start that featured a pair of treys from Sadie DiPierro and two baskets apiece from Shaw and Hayden got UNE rolling, though the cushion was 10 (21-11) at the end of the 1st.
Low-scoring in the 2nd made it 33-18 by halftime, before Shaw registered 10 in the 3rd as the Nor’easters out-scored the hosts 21-5 to seize full control.
Big Blue returns home to face Eastern Nazarene College (4-2 CCC) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
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