BIDDEFORD — The University of New England women’s basketball team raced out to a 35-5 lead during the first half against Bowdoin College Tuesday night, on its way to a 72-32 non-conference win at the Harold Alfond Forum.

With the win, the Nor’easters (2-1) ended a 17-year drought against the Polar Bears (1-2). Each of the last 12 meetings had been decided somewhere between 14 and 52 points in favor of Bowdoin.

Senior forward Beth Suggs scored 22 points on 10 of 12 shooting from the floor and pulled in 11 rebounds to lead Big Blue. First-year point guard Meghan Gribbin added 13 points ”“11 in the first half ”“ going 6 of 9 on field goal tries.

First-year guard Michaela Flanagan chipped in with nine points off the bench, and fellow rookie guard Lauren Hayden put together a solid all-around performance with six points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Things were tied at 3-3 in the early-going until a Flanagan layup with 5:40 gone put the hosts in front for good. UNE rattled off 30 of the next 32 points to build a huge cushion by the 2:46 mark of the first half. Bowdoin scored the last three points of the first half making it 35-8 UNE at halftime.

The Nor’easters forced 20 Polar Bear turnovers in the opening stanza, and held their opponents to just 14.3 percent (3 of 21) shooting.

UNE’s advantage peaked at 43 (62-19) midway through the second half as Big Blue continued to control the play.

Bowdoin junior forward Anna Prohl scored seven points and had six rebounds. Sophomore forward Megan Phelps finished with five points, seven rebounds and four steals. The Nor’easters return to action Nov. 28.