BIDDEFORD – The Husson College women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat the University of New England 74-66 here on Saturday afternoon.

The win moved Husson of Bangor, ranked eighth nationally in the NAIA Div. II Top 25, to 16-1 on the season. The host Red Knights fell to 10-6.

Michelle Hamlin tossed in 22 points and Steph Lebel added 20 to pace the winners.

Maureen Cahill scored 17 points for UNE.

Husson got out of the blocks slowly as UNE, behind some good 3-point shooting, grabbed a 25-10 lead.

Husson rebounded to tie the game by halftime and, after going back and forth with UNE for the early part of the second half, the Braves pulled away down the stretch.

“We came out playing slowly,” said Kissy Walker, Husson’s third-year coach. “We just didn’t shoot well in the first half and they came right at us. I just don’t think they could match up with Michelle (Hamlin) and Steph (Lebel) in the middle.”

Anne Cote added 12 points while Darci Collins had 11 points for Husson. Lebel, Cote, and Collins grabbed eight rebounds apiece, while Vicki Mazerall added seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

For UNE, Darcie Trudeau added 12 points, while Karen Bailey and Cathy Bickford scored 11 points each. Stacy Fondak added 10 points.

Husson College (74)

Hamlin 11, Lebel 7(6), Cote 6, Collins 4(2), Mazerall 1, Shaw 1, Wildman 1, Grant (1), Parker, Dyer 1 U-New England (66)

Cahill 8(1), Bailey 4, Bickford 3(5), Trudeau 4(1), Fondak 4(2), Hilton 1(2), Mauger, Flynn, Collins

3-pt. goals: Collins; Bailey 3, Trudeau

Halftime: Husson 37, UNE 37