Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Sophomore Sammie Battaini scored a game-high 19 points, and senior captain Sam McCann added 18 to equal her career-best and she had nine rebounds, as the Western New England University women's basketball team blew past Curry College, 72-50, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference matchup at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears--who avenged a 59-48 loss at Curry earlier in the season--improve their record to 11-7 overall (6-6 CCC) and the Colonels fall to 11-8 (8-4 CCC).

Battaini knocked down six of the Golden Bears' eight 3-pointers. Junior Chelsea Vujs recorded a double-double, totaling 12 points and 12 rebounds, while dishing out five assists, getting two blocked shots and a steal.
 
The Golden Bears jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. Battaini corralled a long rebound and threw a full-court pass to hit Emily Anderson (six points) in stride, who dropped it in for the team's first points from the floor. Battaini came down two possessions later and drilled a trey. WNE's early run was extended to 11-2 when Anderson found space, fighting around a screen and knocking down a long two-pointer.
 
The Golden Bears' menacing defense extended out to the perimeter, where they denied shooters and forbid any passes inside. The superior defense forced a missed layup, and the Golden Bears worked the ball up courtâ€"found Battaini, who drilled her second 3-pointer of the half. This extended their lead to 25-16 with 5 minutes and 24 seconds left in the first half.
 
The Golden Bears' lead was improved to 31-20 on a broken play down low, with the ball finding its way back up top to Battaini, who didn't hesitate to add another 3ball.
 
With time winding down in the first half, Battaini missed a shot, but Vujs swooped in and grabbed the rebound, finishing in traffic to give the Golden Bears a 34-20 lead. With one second remaining on the clock, Curry inbounded and Kerry White threw a right-handed shot from three-quarters court that rattled in to end the half.
 
The Golden Bears' first-half shooting was led by Battaini's 13 points, consisting of four 3-pointers. The Golden Bears outshot the Colonels, posting a 44.8 percentage from the field, compared to Curry's 28.6 percentage. WNE also controlled the boards early on, pulling down 24 first-half rebounds; Curry grabbed 17.
 
The Golden Bears picked up where they left off in the second half, controlling the tempo of the game, and scoring with ease.
 
White went up for a layup for the Colonels, and Vujs' strong presence altered the shot, and the Golden Bears took over on offensiveâ€"Vujs leading the push. She beat her defender, and dished it back out to Battaini, whose red-hot shooting continued with another three making it 37-23 in favor of the Golden Bears.
 
McCann's low-post play added to the Golden Bears' surge, and was able to coincide with the strong outside shooting, with a high-low post offense. When the bigs popped up, the guards fed them on the high post, opening the outside for the 3ball. McCann, created space and popped upâ€"found her opening, took a step back and nailed a corner jumper, with 11:27 seconds left in the game, giving WNE a commanding 51-34 lead.
 
The Golden Bears began to put the game out of reach when they extended their lead to 59-40. Curry missed a basket, and freshman Dorothy O'Neill (6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) grabbed a long reboundâ€"she found a streaking Vujs up court, who finished with an easy lay in. Battaini hit her sixth 3-pointer with 1:58 left in the game, when she spotted up on the wing, and received the ball after swift passing from the Golden Bears.
 
Efficient offensive play aided the Golden Bears' effort throughout the entire game. They shot 47.5 percent from the field, on 28-of-59. The Colonels struggled from the floor, hitting 22-of-66 for a 33.3 field-goal percentage. The Golden Bears' hot shooting was made possible by the crisp passing, which resulted in 24 assists. Sophomore Sammie Olson led the team with six helpers, while Battaini and junior Amanda Lopez both had four.

White scored 16 points to lead the Curry offense, and Alyssa Keeney added seven. Shannon Griffith had six rebounds.
 
The Golden Bears will face off against Gordon on Tuesday at home in another CCC matchup at the AHLC.

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