Nor’easters storm past AMCATS, 94-51

PAXTON, Mass. (01.22.11) – Led by Kelley Paradis' (Newport, Maine) game high 16-points and eight assists, the University of New England defeated the Anna Maria women's basketball team 94-51 at The Fuller Activities Center in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference match-up on Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Nor'easters to 11-6 (4-1 TCCC), while the loss drops the AMCATS to 6-11 (0-5 TCCC).

In addition to her 16-points and eight assists, Paradis' filled the stat sheet with five rebounds and five steals on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) and Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) chipped-in with 15 points and 14 points, respectively, while Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) contributed 12 points, six rebounds and three steals in the win.

Alison McCarthy (Lynn, Mass.) paced the AMCATS with a team-high 15 points and five treys while Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass.) added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Junior Samantha Ashton (Worcester, Mass.) also played well, adding 11 points to go with four rebounds and four steals.

After Anna Maria opened the game with Emily Nugent's (Worcester, Mass.) three-pointer, back to back layup's by April Mroz (Somersworth, N.H.) and Kelley Paradis' gave UNE the lead and they never looked back. The visitors used three runs of at least nine-points to cement a 53-23 first-half lead. The Nor'easters outshot the AMCATS 58%-37% in the first-frame, while also dominating the paint, outscoring AMC by a 28-4 margin down low.

Kelley Paradis, Kari Pelletier and Beth Suggs each scored in double-figures during the opening half for UNE, with Paradis' 12 points leading the way.

Samantha Ashton paced the AMCATS in the first-half with seven points, while Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Maine) added four points and three assists.

Anna Maria and UNE traded buckets to start the second half, and the AMCATS were never able to climb back into the game. The Nor'easters led by as many as 46 before cementing the 94-51 victory.

Both teams continue TCCC play next Thursday at 6:00 pm, as the Nor'easters host Regis College and the AMCATS take to the road against Curry.