SPRINGFIELD, Mass. â€" Junior guard Jen Dabrowski (Plainville, CT) scored a game high 18 points, including the 1000th of her career as fourth-seeded Western New England College overcame a slow start to defeat fifth-seeded Emerson College 57-49 in a quarterfinal round game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Basketball Tournament Tuesday night (Feb. 20) at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

Senior forward Sharon Simoncelli (Litchfield, CT) added 11 points and nine rebounds as the Golden Bears improved their record to 15-11.

Emerson jumped to an early 11-2 lead and maintained control in taking a 24-18 lead at half-time.

The Golden Bears started the second half on a strong note taking their first lead of the game (28-26) when Dabrowski hit a jumper for her 1000th point with 14:41 remaining in the game.  She hit another jumper to give the hosts a 43-36 advantage at the 6:15 mark. Western New England College took its biggest lead at 49-40 when junior guard Tiffany DeRosa (Hamden, CT) (9 points) drained a three-pointer with 4:03 left in the contest.

That was the final basket for the home team who made eight free throws in the final 1:18 to seal the victory.

The Lions (16-10) had three players scoring in double figures led by junior guard Kelly Kwiecinski (Easthampton, MA) who netted 14 points coming off the bench. Sophomore forward Lauren Vassallo (Oxford, CT) contributed 11 points and seven rebounds while sophomore guard Maude Okrah (Rutland, MA) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Western New England College also received a solid performance from senior forward Vicky Taylor (Feeding Hills, MA) who had six points and eight rebounds. Senior guards Christine Aldrich (Montpelier, VT) (8 points) and Jenna Cullen (East Haddam, MA) (5 points) also came through with key baskets in the second half. Dabrowski, meanwhile, also pulled down six rebounds and had a pair of steals.

The Golden Bears will visit top-seeded Emmanuel (a 90-58 winner over eighth-seeded Rivier) in a semifinal game of the GNAC Tournament at 5:00 p.m. Friday (Feb. 23) at the Yawkey Center. 

Second-seeded Suffolk (a 54-37 winner over seventh-seeded Simmons) will meet third-seeded Suffolk (a 56-43 winner over sixth-seeded Johnson & Wales) in the second semifinal contest at 7:30 p.m.