Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Senior captain Sam McCann had team highs of 17 points and eight rebounds for Western New England, but the Golden Bears were held to 34.4 field goal percentage in a close 66-55 loss at the hands of visiting Salve Regina in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house on Tuesday. The Seahawks improve to 10-6 overall and 7-2 in the CCC to extend their winning streak to four games, while the Golden Bears fall to 10-5 on the season and 5-4 in the conference.

Meaghan Hardenâ€"the CCC's leading scorer, averaging 20.7 points--recorded game highs of 23 points and nine rebounds for Salve, which benefited by going to the free throw line 29 times and making 22 shots. Brianna Del Valle added 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting and she had eight rebounds, and Laura Anne Dinan had 13 points while dishing seven helpers.
 
From the outset, the Golden Bears' physicality was manifested through the down low play of McCann. She consistently fought for position on the low block, and was unfazed by the frequent double teams. For the Golden Bears' second score of the game, McCann took the ball in the paint, spun around, took a drop step and finished with three defenders trying to swat it away.
 
Sophomore guard Sammie Battaini netted 10 points and dished out five assists and junior Chelsea Vujs added eight points for WNE, which was 9 for 13 at the free throw line.
 
Salve Regina outshot the Golden Bears from the floor, knocking down 21-of-48, resulting in 43.8 percent; the Golden Bears were 21-for-61, finishing at 34.4 percent.
 
A put-back basket by Sammie Olson (seven points) ended a Seahawks' 11-0 run with 9:58 remaining in the first half, cutting their lead to 18-9. McCann continued the Golden Bears' push by finding excellent position on the inside and grabbing her own rebound twice before finishing around a host of defenders.
 
A string of ill-advised possessions from the Seahawks allowed the Golden Bears to cut into the deficit. Battaini nailed a trey and a long two to cut the lead to three points. McCann helped narrow the deficit to 27-26 with 2:50 remaining, after securing an offensive rebound and working the ball to the guards. She then popped out to the wing and drilled the spot-up corner two.
 
McCann, who's averaging 4.4 rebounds per game, pulled in four in the first half, and added 13 points to aid the Golden Bears' offense. Their ability to control the glass and find McCann in the post kept the Golden Bears in the game, despite shooting 32.4 percent from the field through 20 minutes.
 
Harden dropped in a layup for the Seahawks, finishing out the first half up 36-28. Harden netted 15 first-half points on five-of-eight from the field, playing the full 20 minutes.
 
After being outscored 9-4 at the start of the second half, the Golden Bears put together an inside-out attack, feeding the cutters and draining the outside shot. Battaini knocked down a 3ball with 13 minutes left, cutting the lead to four at 45-41.
 
Olson and Vujs hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Golden Bears within eight points (63-55) under a minute to go, but the Seahawks' strong defensive effort helped close the game.
 
The Golden Bears distributed the ball well, picking up 17 assists, compared to the Seahawks' 12.
 
The Golden Bears will face the University of New England in their next matchup, on the road, this Saturday.

#Play4Jody