BRISTOL, R.I. – The University of New England earned its third straight win with a 68-51 win over the Roger Williams University Women's Basketball Saturday afternoon to maintain the team's tie for first place in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Though the Nor'Easters only shot 25.8 percent in the game, UNE used its size advantage over Roger Williams to crash the offensive boards and get to the foul line. The Nor'Easters grabbed 23 offensive rebounds in the game and shot 31-for-41 from the charity stripe, both season highs in makes and attempts.

Ryan Weekes (Worcester, Mass.) got things started for the Hawks with a jumper six seconds into the game. Yet it would be almost three minutes before Roger Williams got another point on the board. On the other end, the Nor'Easters began the game 0-8 before finally getting on the board via a couple of free throws by Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine). It wouldn't be until their 12th shot of the game before New England hit its first field goal of the game, a three-pointer by Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) to give UNE a slim 5-4 lead.

A three-pointer by Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.) helped Roger Williams take its largest lead of the game, a 17-12 advantage with 5:45 to play in the half, yet an 8-2 run by UNE, capped off by Kelley Paradis' (Newport, Maine) three-point play gave the Nor”Easters a one-point lead. UNE would go on to hold a five-point advantage over the Hawks entering halftime.

In the beginning of the second half, the Nor'Easters went back to work on the glass and at the line, opening the first 4:20 of the period with a 10-2 run that saw five offensive rebounds and a 5-of-6 performance at the stripe over that period. Leading 38-25 at that point, UNE appeared to be easing towards a win, yet the Hawks continued to remain in the game, coming within seven points on multiple occasions in the half.

A jumper by Nicole Atchue (North Grafton, Mass.) made it a 46-53 game with 3:23 to play and the Hawks looked to complete the comeback but were unable to bring the score closer. The Nor'Easter went 9-of-12 from the line in the final 1:14 to hold on for the win.

Russell finished with a double-double for UNE with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Three other Nor'Easters scored in double digits including Paradis with 14 and seven boards and Pelletier and Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) with ten each.

Weekes scored 16 points with nine rebounds, while Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) added 13 points and seven rebounds. Atchue chipped in with ten points and five boards.

Roger Williams (8-13, 4-5 TCCC) plays its regular-season home finale Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. against Anna Maria College, while the University of New England (17-4, 8-1 TCCC) hosts Endicott College Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. as well.