GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico (December 29, 2015) - The Western New England University women's basketball team opened its two-game trip at the San Juan Shootout with a 61-55, overtime victory against Arcadia (Pa.) University earlier today at the Mario Quijote Morales Coliseum. 

After playing to a 53-53 deadlock through four quarters, the Golden Bears surged past Arcadia in the five-minute overtime session, scoring the final eight points of the contest while holding the Knights to just two points on a pair of free throws. 

Junior forward Emily Anderson (Rocky Hill, Conn.) led the way for Western New England, scoring five of her game and career-high 24 points in overtime as the Golden Bears climbed back above .500 for the season (5-4, 2-1 CCC). Anderson was locked in from three-point range, connecting on 6-of-9 attempts as part of an 8-for-16 shooting performance overall. She also controlled the glass, setting a new career-best with nine rebounds to go with two steals and one assist in 34 minutes of action. 

Sophomore guard Dorothy O'Neill (Staten Island, N.Y.) shot 5-of-8 from the field en route to a 14-point, four-assist, three-steal effort, while senior forward Chelsea Vujs (Berlin, Conn.) rounded out Western New England's three double-figure scorers with ten points, four rebounds and three steals in a team-high 38 minutes. The Golden Bears shot 40.7% (22-of-54) overall, knocking down 40.0% (8-for-20) of their three-point attempts. Western New England also benefited from Arcadia's 23 turnovers, generating 21 points from the Knights' miscues.

Junior guard Imani Alston (Hamilton, N.J.) paced Arcadia with a career-high 15 points and season-best seven rebounds, while senior Dominique Hassinger (Franklinville, N.J.) added ten points and seven boards. 

Western New England led by four (20-16) after a high-scoring first quarter and increased its advantage to a game-high eight points (26-18) following a trey by Anderson 2:11 into the second quarter, but a 10-0 Arcadia run allowed the Knights to pull ahead (28-26) with two minutes left in the half. Two free throws by junior Sammie Olson (Tolland, Conn.) on Western New England's next possession tied the score heading into the break. 

Vujs and O'Neill combined for ten points in the third quarter as the Golden Bears reclaimed a three-point edge (45-42) through 30 minutes, and another triple by Anderson gave Western New England a four-point cushion (50-46) with three and a half minutes remaining in regulation. 

Arcadia continued to battle back, however, tying the score (51-51) on a three by freshman Olivia Roseman (Allentown, Pa.) at the 2:01 mark, and pulling even again (53-53) 40 seconds later on a layup by senior Addy Crenny (Blackwood, N.J.). Neither team was able to score in the final minute as the game headed to overtime. 

Hassinger sank one of two free throws 39 seconds into the extra session and freshman Camille Menns (New Brunswick, N.J.) did the same at the 2:48 mark to give the Knights a 55-53 lead, but it was all Western New England after that point. Anderson converted a layup on the Golden Bears' next possession to tie the score, and a subsequent steal by Vujs turned into two more points as the senior knocked down both attempts from the charity stripe with 1:58 on the clock. Anderson's sixth three-pointer of the afternoon with 26 seconds remaining effectively sealed the contest, stretching Western New England's lead to five (60-55), and O'Neill added a late free throw to cap the scoring.

Both teams will be back in action against Division II competition tomorrow, as the Golden Bears are set to take on the University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon at 2 p.m. after Arcadia (5-5, 1-2 MAC) faces Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras at noon.