WATERVILLE — The UNE women’s basketball team is well on its way to having a happy holiday season.

Days before the Nor’easters go on holiday break, UNE gave the Colby Mules, ranked 14th in the nation, their first loss of the season, in a 70-63 non-conference win in overtime at the Whitmore Center on Tuesday night.

UNE improved to 5-1 on the season, and is 3-1 in non-conference play.

“This is a huge win for us,” UNE forward Beth Suggs said. “It’s great for the seniors, and it’s great for us to win, because this is a win to get the at-large bid (in the NCAA playoffs).”

The win was indeed huge for UNE, as its only loss of the season came at the hands of Bowdoin College on Nov. 22. Colby beat Bowdoin, however, giving the Nor’easters’ win more meaning come tournament time.

UNE guard Kelley Paradis led the team in scoring with 26 points, while Suggs had a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.  

Former Biddeford standout Lauren Rousseau scored 14 points for UNE.

Tied 56-56 at the end of regulation, the Nor’easters kicked their play up a notch and took advantage of the Mules’ mistakes. UNE was a perfect 10 of 10 at the free-throw line in overtime.

“We just knew they were going to be tired (in overtime),” Paradis said. “We had more to play with off the bench than they did. They were in more foul trouble than we were. We knew we could execute better. We just knew we had to box out and execute well, and went and did that.”

The Nor’easters led 11-2 early in the first half. Former Deering star Diana Manduca ignited a fire under Colby as the Mules tied the game at 22-22 with three minutes to play in the half. UNE headed into the locker room at halftime leading 24-23.

UNE had success in the first half with its transition offense, but had trouble finishing with baskets, a fact Nor’easter head coach Anthony Ewing brought up with the team before the game.

“It can be a little disconcerting when you’ve got those big kids down there, it makes you think about your shot and getting blocked,” Ewing said. “We talked about it at halftime, just being strong, going up and taking a normal layup. If it gets blocked, it gets blocked. But if you think about it, you’re going to miss it.”

The second half presented a back-and-forth fight between both squads, with four lead changes in the half. The Nor’easters held onto a 54-49 lead with a little less than four minutes to play, but two Manduca free throws and a 3-pointer by Aarika Ritchie made the score 55-54 with 32 seconds to play. Rousseau made one of two free throws, giving UNE a 56-54 lead, but Manduca hit a layup with 12 seconds to play, forcing the game in to overtime.

Manduca led Colby with 21 points, followed by Ritchie, who had 14.

UNE outscored the Mules 12-7 in overtime, including the 10 points from the free-throw line, sealing the game.

“It’s a difference maker, the difference in the game, really,” Ewing said. “We hadn’t shot great up to that point, 50 percent in the first half. But we made our free throws, we boxed out (on rebounds), did a great job on their key scorers.”

Suggs, who can be shaky at times at the line, led the Nor’easters with six free throws in 10 tries.

“It’s definitely gotten better,” Suggs said. “I missed all of preseason because of my hamstring, so it’s progressing. I’ve learned to clear my head and think of something else, like (the ball) going in, and it’s been going in.”

The Nor’easters won’t have time to enjoy their win for long. UNE has one more game before its 23-day break from games, once again hitting the road to play against St. Joseph’s College in Standish on Saturday. The Monks are 4-3 this year, but 2-0 at home.

“It’s a big win, certainly, it shows how good we can be,” Ewing said. “But we have to be good again on Saturday. We have to be this team, with this intensity, against everybody, and that’ll be something. We just can’t do it against the best team in the region.”

— Contact Staff Writer Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.