BEVERLY, Mass. (January 27, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team force a fourth quarter battle but was ultimately defeated by CCC's #2 ranked Endicott College Gulls.

Records:

• Western New England: 6-11, 4-6 CCC
• Endicott College: 11-7, 7-3 CCC

How It Happened: 

Western New England got behind early in the game. The Endicott Gulls got out to an eight-point lead to start the first quarter. WNE's Grace Fisher broke the scoreless streak with a free-throw, and she put in two more for the quarter. Julia Quinn added with a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer. Those were the only points for the Golden Bears for the first quarter. Endicott put up 26 points, and the quarter ended 26-8. 

Western New England knocked in the first baskets of the second quarter. Emma Kahn hit a three from way beyond the arc plus two more from Fisher at the foul line before Endicott forced another run. At the 6:19 mark in the second, the Gulls largest lead in the first half was 18 points with a score of 33-15. The Golden Bears started playing better defense later in the half and scored more baskets. Fisher and Shaina Cooney made some great layups, and Abby Garaban closed out the first half with a final second three-pointer, that put the Golden Bears within 12 points. The score at half was 40-28 in favor of the Gulls.

A few offensive and defensive fouls hurt the Golden Bears to start the third quarter. It was a low scoring quarter for both teams. Endicott knocked in the first two baskets of the third before WNE's Emma Kahn and Lindsey Carey returned the four points. The two teams continued to exchange baskets for a few minutes of play. The largest lead of the third for Endicott college was still only 18 points, and they only outscored the Golden Bears by two points in the third quarter. The quarter ended with Endicott only up by 14 points, 52-38. 

The Golden Bears made it a close one in the fourth. WNE forced Endicott down to the wire. Fisher and Carey made some layups to open the fourth. Kahn swooshed in another three, and Cooney hit one of her own before the Gulls scored. She closed the game gap to within four points for a score of 54-48 at the 6:16 mark in the fourth. The game remained scoreless for a minute and fifteen of play. Julia Quinn hit some more foul shots and Cooney made a couple more baskets to tie the game at 54-54 with 3:44 remaining in the game. The rest of the game became a back-and-forth battle between the two teams knocking in shot after shot. The Golden Bears took their first lead of the game almost at the two-minute mark but couldn't re-gain the lead after that. WNE lost to the Gulls 61-58.

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 29.2 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from the three, 54.2 percent from the foul line, while grabbing an impressive 54 rebounds, 13 assists, four blocks, and four steals.
• Endicott College had 38.2 percent from the paint, 28.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 55.6 percent from the free throw line while pulling down 44 rebounds, 11 assists, five blocks and four steals.
• The Golden Bears were led by Fisher who had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, plus one steal and two blocks. Cooney also had 12 rebounds on the night, with nine points and an assist steal and block.
• Quinn also added 9 points, five rebounds and two assist. Kahn joined her with nine points four rebounds, two assists and a block.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears will remain on the road for their next game vs Gordon on Saturday January 29 with a 1:00 pm tipoff.
• Endicott College will rematch with Western New England for their next game on February 2 for a 5:30 pm game time.