SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 8, 2024) – The Western New England women's basketball team was led by senior Emma Kahn on Friday night as the senior led the Golden Bears with 18 points on  6/12 shooting, including 4/5 from deep, as WNE would collect a victory on the road at Springfield College, defeating the Pride for the first time in five tries overall, 70-63.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-0
• Springfield College: 0-1

How it Happened:

The first quarter saw the Golden Bears drop a quick seven points in the first 1:45 of the game to come away with a 7-1 lead. Lilly Hedge would pick up the first basket of the game for Western New England while then coming around for an and-one and converted on the free throw to give WNE a quick 5-1 lead. Following a Springfield College turnover, the Golden Bears would quickly move up the floor, seeing Hedge dish the basketball to Emma Novajasky, who scooped and scored her first layup of the year, forcing a timeout from the Pride, with WNE leading by six. Back-to-back three-point shots from Springfield's Kassidy Carrano and Claire Finney would get the Pride right back into the game with four minutes of elapsed time gone in the first quarter, seeing WNE's quick eight-point lead drop down to a two-point advantage. The Pride would comeback to tie the game on a layup from Angie Czeremcha before the two teams would quickly exchange baskets to tie the game at 11. Novajasky would drop WNE's first three-point shot of the season on an assist from Shaina Cooney to give Western New England a 14-11 lead. That lead would last for just the next two possessions as the Golden Bears would see the Pride drain their next three three-point shots to take a 20-14 lead, forcing a Western New England timeout. Following a timeout, the Golden Bears would hold the Pride to no points over the final 3:23 of the first quarter, while Perry Blasetti would contribute two free throws for the Golden Bears to drop Springfield College's lead to four following the first. The Pride shot 50% from the field in the first frame, dropping five threes out of seven attempts. The Golden Bears notched six field goals and drained three free throws in the opening quarter overall.

The Golden Bears opened the second quarter with a triple as Emma Kahn found Blasetti open for a three, which dropped through the net to sink Springfield's lead to one. Western New England would erase Springfield's lead and tie the score at 24 when Kahn would drill her first three-pointer of the season. The score would remain close until Springfield's Kassidy Carrano would hit from distance to extend SC's lead to five again. Springfield would lead by as many as nine before a late jumper from Kahn would drop the Pride lead to seven at the break. The Golden Bears shot 41% from the floor in the second quarter, though converted just one of four free throws.

The third quarter saw the Golden Bears get out to a quick 4-0 start as Lilly Hedge collected two free throws while Perry Blasetti knocked down a jumper to get the SC lead down to three. From there, the Pride would go on a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, a 10-point advantage, leading 43-33. Despite the big Springfield College lead, the Golden Bears would mount a comeback in the quarter, coming from ten down to tie the game at 44. Points from sophomore Sophie Hedge, senior Emma Novajasky, and graduate student Nora Young would play a big part in WNE's comeback. With less than a minute to play in the third, Springfield would connect on four three-pointers to take a four-point lead though that would be erased again late as Emma Kahn would drill a three from distance to even the score at 50 heading into the final quarter of the game. Western New England outscored Springfield 21-14 in the third quarter, hitting six of 16 shots, two from distance, while converting seven free throws.

Kahn would continue her hot shooting for the Golden Bears to open the fourth quarter of the game, connecting on another three-ball that gave Western New England a 53-50 lead. The Golden Bears would go up by as many as five when Novajasky sprinted up the floor for a fast break layup, giving WNE a 57-52 lead. Springfield would storm back on their home floor, getting points from Angie Czeremcha and Amand Leary to take a 60-59 lead with 4:19 to play. Down the stretch, Western New England would get three of four free throws to go down as Young and Paige Winter would connect while Kahn would hit from distance again with 1:43 to play, giving Western New England their five-point lead back. Springfield would get back within two when Czeremcha hit a layup plus recorded a free throw on the and-one, getting the Pride to 63 points on the night, trailing WNE by two. Those points would be the final points on the night for Springfield College as Western New England would hit free throws down the stretch to put the game on ice as Lilly Hedge, Paige Winer, and Nora Young would capitalize at the line to send Western New England to a 70-63 opening night victory.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears outscored Springfield 20-13 in the final quarter to claim victory. Western New England was aided by an 0/5 showing from the Pride from distance, while Springfield hit just five of their 17 shots total.
• WNE connected on both three balls in the fourth, coming from Emma Kahn, who led Western New England with 18 points on the night, shooting 6/12 and 4/5 from deep. The senior also had two rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
• Emma Novajasky (14 points) and Lilly Hedge (11 points) were both in double figures for the Golden Bears in the win. Novajasky was 6/7 shooting, including 1/1 from deep, while picking up two rebounds and an assist in the game. Hedge picked up the first seven points of the game for WNE, picking up 11 total on 3/8 shooting while making all five free throws.
• The Golden Bears shot 44% from the field as a team while making seven of 15 three-point shots. The Golden Bears were a rocky 19/31 from the free throw line.
• Kassidy Carrano led Springfield College with 18 points, shooting 7/12 and 3/5 from three-point land.
• Angie Czeremcha collected a double-double, scoring 13 points while picking up ten rebounds.
• The WNE bench outscored Springfield's 24-11. The contest featured eight tied and four lead changes.
• Western New England bests Springfield for the first time since 2018, five meetings overall.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears head to Rhode Island College on Wednesday, November 13 at 7:30 PM for a non-conference showdown with the Anchorwomen.