Blue Basketball Falls Just Short in Season-Opener Against UNE

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Wellesley College basketball team dropped a tight 46-43 game to the University of New England in the season opening Williams Tip-Off tournament at Chandler Gym on Saturday.

Both teams struggled early in the game, combining to miss the first 15 total shots. UNE finally broke through, six minutes in, as Lauren Rousseau hit Michaela Flanagan with a long pass in transition, leaving Flanagan time to make the simple layup and give the Nor'easters the game's first points.

UNE stretched its advantage to 7-0 before Meghan Sargent broke Wellesley's drought by knocking down a three with 12:33 remaining in the period. Sargent and Morgyne Weaver then took over for the Blue, combining to score 14 of Wellesley's next 15 points thanks to a series of strong driving layups that helped propel the Blue to a 20-17 halftime lead.

The Nor'easters came out of the break hot, setting the tone early when Meghan Gribbin tossed a pass the length of the court for a Beth Suggs layup just 19 seconds into the half.

Although the Nor'easters managed to claim a brief lead moments later, the Blue came roaring back. Katie Shulenberger got things started with a simple pass to Chelsi Scott, who spun and powered her way to the basket while drawing a foul, which Scott converted into a three-point play moments later. That play kicked off a 10-0 run for Wellesley and left them leading 32-24 with 13:54 remaining after a pair of Scott free throws.

The Nor'easters methodically worked their way back into the game as Wellesley, which had only eight players active, began to tire. Suggs found Coleman for a critical three-pointer to bring UNE within two, then made a great move to get free in the paint and drain a layup of her own to know things at 34 with 6:37 remaining.

The remainder of the game was a tense affair, as neither side could take a lead of more than four points the rest of the way. Ultimately, a reversal of the same pairing that started the half—Suggs to Gribbin—conspired to give the Nor'easters  a lead they would never relinquish when Gribbin made a great spin move underneath the basket to make it 44-43. 

A pair of Lauren Hayden free throws stretched the margin to three with just over four seconds left, leaving Wellesley with no choice but to heave up a desperation three-pointer that clanged off the backboard as time expired.

Suggs led all scorers with 16 points for UNE, while also pulling down a monstrous 22 rebounds. Kelly Coleman contributed 11 points and seven boards, while Hayden picked up eight points, eight rebounds. The Nor'easters combined to out-rebound Wellesley by a 50-42 margin. 

For Wellesley, Weaver recorded 13 points, while Meghan Sargent picked up her first-career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Maier and Scott each added seven points in the loss, while Maier also recorded four steals.

Wellesley will now take on Salve Regina tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., while the Nor'easters will battle Williams at 3:00 p.m. Both games will be at Chandler Gym.