SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 8, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team force an overtime against the University of New England Nor'easters to  only suffer their fifth straight loss. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-9, 1-4 CCC
• University of New England: 6-5, 4-0 CCC

How It Happened: 

The Golden Bears started the game trailing the University of New England Nor'easters who scored five straight points. UNE got off to a 10-3 lead until the Golden Bears held them at 10 points for three minutes of play during the first quarter. Abby Garaban was hot from the free throw line in the first quarter of play. Emma Kahn contributed a three, a mid-range shot and major rebounds that helped the Golden Bears. Grace Fisher helped WNE take their first lead of the game 11-10 with a fast-break bucket and a free-throw at 2:06 remaining in the opening quarter. The Golden Bears controlled the lead for the remaining of the quarter only allowing the Nor'easters to score three more points with a final first quarter score of 14-13.

The Golden Bears built on their lead for all the second quarter. The University of New England kept the first couple of minutes of the second quarter competitive with WNE only up three. Halfway through the second, the Golden Bears knocked down 11 unanswered points. The Nor'easters didn't hit a basket from 5:20 until the 1:55 mark, WNE only allowing 9 points in the quarter. Garaban had seven points in the second quarter, and 10 in the half. Kahn also end the half with 10 points. The halftime score 33-22, Golden Bears.

The third quarter was another great offensive quarter for the Golden Bears. Fisher had a great quarter adding 10 more points. For every basket the Nor'Easters scored, WNE answered with a basket of their own. The largest lead of the game happened at the four-minute mark when the Golden Bears went up 49-32 from a layup hit by Fisher. Defensively, the Golden Bears weren't as strong, and they missed some free-throws which made them only out score the Nor'Easters by one point for the quarter. The third ended 51-39, WNE.

Some unfortunate fouls and more missed free-throws let the Nor'Easters back in the game. They fought their way back and brought the game within five points less than three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Golden Bears were still scoring but missed a lot of extra point opportunities, whereas the Nor'Easters were very strong at the free-throw line. WNE still held the lead for most of the game. With both teams in foul trouble, a series of free-throws changed the game. University of New England tied the game at the foul line with less than two minutes left in the game. from then on, the Golden Bears had to fight to stay in the game. They tied the game to force an overtime, but they could not stop the Nor'Easters' momentum and they lost the game 80-73.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears as a team shot 45.6 percent from the floor, 26.3 percent beyond the arc, and 59.3 percent from the foul line while grabbing 37 rebounds, 16 assists, three steals, and one block
• UNE shot 41.7 percent from inside the paint, 27.8 percent from the three, and 80.6 percent from the free throw line while tallying 33 rebounds, 11 assists, three eight steals and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Fisher recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. She also had three assist, one steal, and one block
• Garaban added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assist, and two steals. Kahn had 13 points, four rebounds and three assist, and Cooney had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Up Next: 

• Western New England are back on the road to face Wentworth Institute of Technology on Wednesday January 12, at 5:30 pm.
• UNE meets Curry College on Monday, January 10 at 2:00 pm.