Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Junior Chelsea Vujs recorded game highs of 16 points and 26 rebounds to lead Western New England University to a 66-55 victory Saturday over visiting Roger Williams University in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house. With their first win over the Hawks since the 2011-12 campaign, the Golden Bears move to 6-2 overall; Roger Williams--picked to finish second in the CCC preseason' coaches poll--drops to 3-5. Both teams are now 1-1 in the conference.

Three other Western New England scorers reached double digits including freshman Dorothy O'Neill with 14, sophomore Sammie Olson had 12 and senior captain Sam McCann (7 rebounds) netted 11.

Vujs' performance on the boards is a career-high, the most in the CCC this season and the second-leading total in school history for a single game. Roma St. George (Knapton) set the record of 28 during the 1980-81 season and Jamie Carney equaled the mark in a 2003 contest versus St. Joseph-Conn. With 19 and 10 rebounds in her previous two starts, Vujs now leads the CCC with an 11.8 rebounding average.

Rachel Battista came off the RWU bench to pace the Hawks with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. She also had five rebounds two assists and two steals. Katie Lowerre (7 rebounds) and Mariah Nicholas added 10 points apiece.

The teams traded baskets for most of a first half that featured seven ties and six lead changes until sophomore Sammie Battaini drained a three-pointer to put WNE ahead to stay at 24-22 with 6 minutes and 53 seconds to go. The Golden Bears took a 31-26 lead into the intermission.

Western New England took control to begin the second half, building a 14-point advantage, 40-26, with 16:23 remaining.

Roger Williams was able to cut into the deficit at 46-44 at the midway point, getting eight points from Battista and four by Lowerre to get back into the game.

While the Golden Bears bended they didn't break, responding to the Hawks' 18-6 run to pull within two with a 16-1 spurt of their own over 8:08 into a 62-45 lead to seal the win.

The teams were nearly identical in several statistical categories except that WNE dominated the boards (47-34) and attacked the basket by outscoring the Hawks 17 to 7 at the free throw line.

Western New England will be taking final exams next week and will then have the Christmas/New Year's holidays before returning to the court on Tuesday, Jan. 6, when the Golden Bears will travel to Wenham to take on Gordon College for a CCC encounter. The opening tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.