NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Brown women’s basketball team earned a 70-60 road victory over Merrimack on Tuesday night at Volpe Athletic Center. The Bears used a consistent offensive effort, scoring 18, 19, 20 and 13 points by quarter, to secure the win before an announced crowd of 428. Elizabeth Nelson led Brown with 15 points, while Grace Arnolie added 13 points and seven assists. Alyssa Moreland contributed 14 points for the Bears, who improved to 7-4. Oralye Kiefer scored a game-high 19 points for Merrimack. The Warriors, who fell to 3-6, kept pace early but were outscored 20-13 in the decisive third quarter.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Brown Bears used a balanced offensive attack and a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Merrimack Warriors for a 70-60 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Volpe Athletic Center. Brown, which improved to 7-4, placed five players in double figures, led by Elizabeth Nelson’s 15 points. The Bears weathered a 19-point performance from Merrimack’s Oralye Kiefer and methodically built their lead after halftime. The most important part of the game came in the third quarter, when Brown transformed a narrow 37-36 halftime edge into a commanding double-digit advantage. The Bears opened the second half on a 14-3 run, holding Merrimack to just one field goal over the first six and a half minutes of the period. Alyssa Moreland, who finished with 14 points, was instrumental during the stretch, scoring six points as Brown’s defense stifled the Warriors’ offense, forcing multiple turnovers and contested misses. That run gave Brown a 51-39 lead, and the Bears never allowed Merrimack closer than eight points the rest of the way. Brown outscored Merrimack 20-13 in the pivotal third quarter, establishing a cushion that proved insurmountable for the struggling Warriors, who fell to 3-6. The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring eight lead changes. Merrimack’s Kiefer, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Wayland, Massachusetts, was dominant early, scoring 11 of her game-high 19 points in the opening quarter. Her inside presence and a pair of three-pointers helped the Warriors take a 19-18 lead after one period. Brown responded in the second quarter behind the playmaking of guard Grace Arnolie. The junior from Vienna, Virginia, dished out seven assists to go with her 13 points, repeatedly finding open teammates. Her drive-and-kick passes led to key three-pointers from Olivia Young and Nelson, helping the Bears reclaim a slim one-point lead at the intermission. After Brown’s game-breaking run in the third, the teams played nearly even in the fourth quarter. Merrimack made several attempts to rally, cutting the deficit to 58-50 with just over four minutes remaining on a Paloma Garcia layup. Each time, however, Brown answered. Moreland scored on a driving layup off a Merrimack turnover, and Nelson connected on a crucial three-pointer early in the fourth to stifle any momentum. Young finished with 12 points for Brown, while Isabella Wesley added seven points and three assists. For Merrimack, Lydia Melashenko scored 12 points and Molly Manion contributed nine off the bench. The Warriors were hampered by 22 turnovers, which Brown converted into 19 points. The game was played before an announced crowd of 428. Brown now looks ahead to a home game against Monmouth on Dec. 21, while Merrimack travels to face Fairfield on the same date.

Preview: Brown Bears at Merrimack Warriors NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Brown Bears visit the Merrimack Warriors in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Tuesday at Volpe Athletic Center. Brown (6-4) looks to rebound from a 48-53 road loss at George Washington on Saturday. The Bears had won three straight prior to that defeat. Merrimack (3-5) seeks consistency after alternating wins and losses over its past five games, most recently falling 61-65 at New Hampshire on Friday. The game features a compelling duel between standout forwards. Brown’s Alyssa Moreland is averaging a near double-double on the season and is coming off a 14-rebound, 6-assist performance against George Washington. She has recorded three double-doubles this season, including a 16-point, 16-rebound effort in a win at Bucknell on Nov. 28. Merrimack counters with Mia Fiore, who has scored in double figures in every game this season. She averages a team-high 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. Fiore posted 24 points in a loss to Bryant on Nov. 19 and nearly had a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds against New Hampshire. Brown’s offense runs through Moreland and guard Grace Arnolie, who scored a team-high 21 points in the loss to George Washington. The Bears have relied on a strong defense, holding opponents to 60 points or fewer in five of their six victories. The Warriors, members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, have shown offensive firepower, scoring 83 points in a win over Northeastern and 97 in a season-opening victory against UMass Boston. However, defensive lapses have led to several high-scoring losses. This is the first meeting between the programs. Following this game, Brown breaks for finals before hosting Monmouth on Dec. 21. Merrimack travels to Fairfield on Dec. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.