Avery O'Connor hits a free throw for UNH as one of her 27 points in the Wildcats' win over Division III Colby Sawyer. (Photo courtesy of UNH Athletics)

DURHAM – Freshman guard Avery O’Connor scored 27 of the University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team’s points in their 83-24 season-opening victory over Colby-Sawyer on Monday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Junior guard Belen Morales Lopez (Bellreguard, Spain) scored the first point of the game and UNH held the lead the rest of the way.

UNH led the scoreboard with an 18 – 0 run in the first eight minutes before Colby Sawyer made a free throw.

Senior guard Brooke Kane of Derry led the run with six points.

With nine minutes left in the half, Kane started a seven-point run with a three-point shot.

O’Connor started another run with another three-point shot putting the Wildcats up to 44 – 9 before Colby-Sawyer scored.

Junior guard Adara Groman scored within the last 10 seconds of the quarter with a layup, giving the ‘Cats a 46 – 12 lead at the break.

In the ‘Cat’s first run of the third quarter, Lopez started UNH off with a layup putting them up at 48 – 12 before Colby Sawyer scored and put the score at 53 -14.

UNH finished with the slight edge in both field goal percentage (50.0% to 22.2%) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.9% to 18.8%).

UNH outscored the Chargers 10-5 in free throws.

The Wildcats collected 40 rebounds compared to the Chargers’ 24.

UNH recorded the edge in points off turnovers (41-0), in the paint (34-8), second-chance points (14-5) and fast breaks (10-0).

The Wildcats return to action Thursday for a 7 p.m. game against the Siena Saints in Loudonville, N.Y.