SPRINGFIELD, Mass. â€" Western New England College clinched second place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a 64-42 victory over Emerson College in the regular season finale for both teams.
The Golden Bears (18-6, 10-2) will host a quarterfinal round game of the GNAC Tournament Wednesday night against an opponent to be named.
Freshman guard Jennifer Dabrowski (Plainville, CT) scored 16 of her career 22 points in the first half coming off the bench after making 10-of-15 shots from the field (including 1-of-2 three pointers) and her only foul shot. Dabrowski's previous high was 16 points at Simmons College on February 10.
Senior forward Shelley Everson (Plainville, CT) added 10 points for the second straight game along with five rebounds while freshman point guard Megan Ferguson (Plainville, CT) had six points, six assists, and four steals.
Western New England College, which led 37-19 at half-time, received 39 points from its reserves.
The Golden Bears shot a season best 53.1% from the field (26-of-49), including 64.0% in the first half, while holding the Lions to only 28.5% shooting from the floor (15-of-53).
This also was the 13th time this season that Western New England College held an opponent under 50 points.
Junior guard Molly O'Keefe (Yonkers, NY) and freshman guard Kelly Kwiecinski (Easthampton, MA) each scored nine points for the Lions (11-14, 4-8) while freshman forwards Becky Everett (Orange, MA) and Mallory Frers (Sharon, MA) each chipped-in with eight points.
Before the game, Everson (a team tri-captain) and four-year manager Melanie Pollaro (Woodbridge, CT) received flowers as part of "Senior Day."
