NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 16, 2021) – The Western New England women's basketball team hit the road to Albertus Magnus earlier this evening where they notched their first win of the 2021-22 season 67-60.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-2
• Albertus Magnus: 0-1

How It Happened:

Grace Fisher scored the first basket of the game just 28 seconds into play before the Falcons struck to take a 4-2 lead. The game was then tied 4-4 and 6-6 when the Falcons made a fastbreak layup to lead 8-6 halfway through the first quarter. Lindsey Carey made a layup just 12 seconds later that kick started an offensive run for the Golden Bears. Carey made the free throw on her and-one while on their next possession Fisher hit a three to earn the Golden Bears an 11-8 lead. The run continued after over two minutes without a basket on either side when Shaina Cooney made a free throw. A foul on the Golden Bears in the final seconds of the first quarter allowed the Falcons to get within four with two made free throws.. The Golden Bears led 14-10 after the first 10 minutes of play.

Lexi Leon opened the second quarter with a three from Fisher to extend Western New England's lead to seven (17-10). After the Falcons scored two points, the Golden Bears went on a 7-0 run capped off by a three from Emma Kahn to earn the Golden Bears their largest lead of the game 24-12. Four unanswered layups for the Falcons put themselves back in the game only down four (24-20). Fisher answered for the Golden Bears drawing a foul and made both free throws. Carey made a layup to put Western New England back up eight (28-20). The two teams traded baskets before the Falcons stole momentum to go on a 5-0 run before the half ran out. Cooney made a jump shot in the final 20 seconds of the half to keep the Golden Bears in the lead 34-31 heading into the break.

Just 19 seconds into the third quarter the Falcons make a layup to get within one (34-33) of the Golden Bears. Abby Garaban answered with an unassisted layup before the back-and-forth action began. The two teams were trading baskets until Fisher and Carey made back-to-back layups to keep the Golden Bears in the lead 42-37. Four straight points for the Falcons put them back within one (42-41) with just 6:04 left in the third quarter. Fisher made a layup only for the Falcons to swish a three just 21 seconds later to tie the game 44-44. A made free throw by Fisher kickstarted the Golden Bear offense to score five more points and take a 50-44 lead with a layup by Emma Elrod and a three from Garaban. A 7-2 run in favor of the Falcons to end the third quarter put Western New England ahead only 52-51 with just 10 minutes left in the game.

The Falcons opened with a quick layup only for Garaban to make a three on the next possession. Neither team was able to score again until the 6:20 mark when Leon made a jump shot to extend the Golden Bears lead 57-53. Only 20 seconds later the Falcons made a three to keep themselves within one (57-56). Kahn responded with a three for Western New England which was followed by a three from Julia Quinn to make the score 63-56 Western New England. Garaban tallied a pair of free throws followed by one from Fisher to put the Golden Bears ahead 10 points (66-56) with just 1:38 left. Back-to-back layups for the Falcons got them within six with 19 seconds on the clock while they were still fouling to try and gain possession. Quinn scored the final point of the game on a free throw for the Golden Bears to defeat the Falcons 67-60.

Inside the Numbers:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 41.4 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 65.0 percent from the foul line while gathering 50 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and two blocks.
• Albertus Magnus shot 39.7 percent from the hardwood, 10.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 50.0 percent from the free throw line while tallying 33 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals and three blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Fisher earning her first double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds while also earning three assists and two blocks. Fisher went 7-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-10 at the charity stripe.
• Garaban recorded 12 points, four rebounds, one assist and two steals on the night while Carey notched nine points, five rebounds and one assist.

Up Next:

The Golden Bears remain on the road heading to day one of the LaFrance Hospitality Tournament to face host UMass-Dartmouth on Friday, November 19 with a 5 p.m. tipoff.