BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team fell to the University of New England this past Saturday 61-56 in the team's first Commonwealth Coast Conference game of the year.
 
Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.) opened the 1^st quarter with a layup, followed by two free throws by Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.). Back-to-back three-point opportunities from Sadie Nelson (Windham. Maine) and Elyssa Nicholas (Southborough, Mass.) helped the Nor'easters to take the lead 6-4.  Two more free throws by Leone, a layup by Opalka and a three-point shot from Sam Mancinelli (Peabody, Mass.)  allowed the Hawks to later retake the lead 11-10. The Nor'easters regained the lead with an Ashley Coneys (Dober, N.H.) layup and led 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Nor'easters dominated the first five minutes of the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 9-0. The Hawks battled back to gain some momentum, from layups from Leone and Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.). Both teams battled this quarter, but the Nor'easters went into halftime with a 34-24 lead.
 
The Hawks opened the third quarter with a layup from Alyssa Grant (Berlin, Conn.). Leone followed with a three-pointer and a layup by Opalka to close in on the Nor'easters 31-36. UNE responded with a 10-4 run to make it an 11-point lead with three minutes left. Two last-second free throws by Allie Goodman (Durham, Maine) stretched the Nor'easter lead to 50-41 going into the fourth.
 
The Hawks struck first in the fourth with a layup from Opalka and one made free throw by Grant to close the lead 44-50. Defensive plays by the Hawks did not allow UNE to score in the first three minutes. Leone later hit a three shot to close the deficit to three (47-50) with seven minutes left. However, UNE kept the lead at least three for the rest of the way, coming away with the win.
 
Leone led the Hawks with 18 points and six rebounds. Opalka contributed with 12 points and nine rebounds. Jerahian had nine points and one rebound.
 
Leading the Nor'easters was Jocelyn Chaput (Nashua, N.H.) with 18 points and six rebounds. Nelson contributed with 14 points and four rebounds. Abby Cavallaro (South Portland, Maine) had eight points and two rebounds.
 
Roger Williams (2-5, 0-2 CCC) will travel to Salve Regina this Tuesday. University of New England (3-5, 1-0 CCC) hosts Wentworth this Tuesday.