BIDDEFORD, Maine. (February 5, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team lose a close game to the University of New England's Nor'easters on the road today, 74-66.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-13, 5-8 CCC
• University of New England: 12-8, 10-3 CCC

How It Happened: 

The game started off with a lot of back-and-forth action. The University of New England started off hot from beyond the arc, hitting two back-to-back threes. They were answered by quick lay-ups from the Golden Bears' Grace Fisher and Shaina Cooney. The two teams continued to exchange baskets. Julia Quinn hit a jumper followed by two more from Cooney from the foul-line for a score of 10-8, Nor'easters, at the six-minute mark. UNE went on a small run after that going up by seven, but the Golden Bears quickly answered. The quarter ended tied 18-18 with a three-point basket from Emma Kahn with 20 seconds left on the clock.

The second quarter continued the tight battle of the CCC opponents. The Nor'easters knocked in the first points of the quarter and WNE's Lexi Leon tied it back up with a jumper for two. The game was tied four times during this quarter. Every time the Nor'easters scored; the Golden Bears answered with a basket. The largest lead was first at the 2:50 remaining in the half with UNE up by four points for a score of 29-25, and at 2:10, 31-27. The Golden Bears' Abby Garaban scored the points to tie the score up both times. The Nor'easters ended up winning the quarter by two points, with the half ending 33-31.

Garaban opened the third quarter swooshing in a corner three-point shot from Quinn to give the Golden Bears their first lead of the game. There were some more shoot out action between the two teams. Cooney gave them a lead of three at the 7:00 minute mark in the third, 38-35, before UNE tied the score with yet another three and proceed to shoot in two more baskets to give them the lead almost halfway through the quarter with a time of 5:34 left on the clock. Garaban hit another clutch three pointer to regain the lead for WNE for a score of 44-42. The score was quickly tied back up. The Nor'easters finished out the quarter outscoring the Golden Bears again for a final third quarter score of 49-45.

The first play of the game Lindsey Carey is fouled going into the basket who completed the plus one play, but the Nor'easters put a bucket right up. There was about two minutes of action where neither team scored and then UNE knocked in a jumper that the Golden Bears' Garaban's hot hand replied with three more points. Fisher was put on the foul-line and WNE had the score within one, 54-53 with 5:47 left in the game. From here on The Golden Bears could not close the gap between them and the Nor' easters. At 3:19, UNE had increased their lead to 10 points, 66-56. Fisher's lay-up put WNE within six points with less than two minutes to go, but they just couldn't get more shots to drop and ended up losing the game 74-66. 

Inside the Numbers:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 36.7 percent from the floor, 30.0 percent from the three, 80.0 percent from the foul line, while grabbing 39 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks, and four steals.
• University of New England had 39.1 percent from the paint, 36.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.6 percent from the free throw line while pulling down 41 rebounds, 15 assists, seven blocks, and six steals
• The Golden Bears were led by Garaban who had 16 points and six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Fisher added 15 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block
• Cooney led the team in rebounds with eight. She also had 12 points and three assists. 

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears return to the Alumni Healthful Living Center on Tuesday February 8, where they tip off with Wentworth Institute at 5:30 p.m.
• The Nor'easters go on the road for their next game where they play Suffolk University, Tuesday February 8, for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.