LEWISTON — Tuesday’s first half couldn’t have been scripted much worse from the perspective of the Bates women’s basketball team.

Part two? Hard to imagine it unfolding any better.

Bates blew open a one-point game at the break and cruised to an 83-51 victory over Husson at sweltering Alumni Gymnasium.

The gang that couldn’t shoot straight before the break (10-for-30, 33 percent) suddenly went lights out (25-for-38, 66 percent), converting fast break layups and uncontested 18-foot jumpers with equal ease.

“It was definitely a rough first half, but it’s a game of two halves.” Bates sophomore Meredith Kelly said. “We tried to put the first half behind us and start over and show them how we really play.”

The Bobcats (1-1) stopped gift-wrapping turnovers and continued creating them, leading either to odd numbers or ample room to catch and shoot on almost every possession.

Kelly led Bates with 17 points, three assists and three blocked shots off the bench. Allie Beaulieu added 15 points and Brianna Hawkins had 13.

Lauren Dobish and Annie Burns combined for 13 steals. Burns dished out 13 of the Bobcats’ 25 assists.

“I thought our defense was pretty solid all game long,” Bates coach Jim Murphy said. “It was our first home game, and we were just rushing everything. We were ecstatic at halftime to be up one with the way we shot the ball. It wasn’t pretty.”

Despite their struggles shooting and distributing the basketball, the Bobcats took the lead three seconds before the halftime horn and never trailed again.

St. Dominic Academy graduate Allaina Murphy of Poland delivered the traditional 3-point play that gave Bates its 25-24 advantage.

Murphy was one of a dozen Bobcats to score.

“We’re very deep this year. That’s one of our strengths,” said Bates senior Kelsey Flaherty of South Portland. “It was a tough first half, but we’re always a better second half team.”

Husson (0-3) hovered within three, 36-33, on Amanda Gifford’s steal and layup with 13:48 remaining.

The Eagles went scoreless over the next four minutes while Bates erupted for 18 unanswered points.

Kelly connected on a lay-up and a jumper from the top of the key, then cashed in a Burns theft to provide the first six.

Beaulieu chimed in with back-to-back 3-pointers. Field goals by Hawkins and Dobish and two Flaherty free throws put the Bobcats in command.

“We can run very well. I thought Husson was getting a little bit tired,” Coach Murphy said. “The heat does make a difference. Poor Amanda Gifford, she was bringing the ball up against intense pressure every possession.”

Bates trailed by nine, 20-11, with 5:58 remaining in the first half.

Taryn O’Connell’s blocked shot led to a Kelly bucket, and Burns’ swipe set up Beaulieu to highlight a 9-1 run.

Hawkins, Burns and Murphy scored the last six points for Bates. Husson never sniffed the lead again.

“Coach talked to us at half and kind of settled our nerves,” Kelly said. “We tried to take better care of the ball, control it and play how we normally play. It’s tough. Some of the teams we play already have four games under their belt.”

Stephanie Comstock led Husson with 14 points and eight rebounds. Kelli Murray and Brianna Hanscom each added nine points for the Eagles, who were held to just under 34 percent from the field. Husson committed 27 turnovers.

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