SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 2, 2024) – The Western New England women's basketball team saw five of their own score in double figures in Conference of New England play in a rare Monday tilt from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, holding one of the most high-powered offenses, the Bison of Nichols College, to just 57 points, leading their way to an easy 89-57 victory to start the season 1-0 in CNE play.

Records:

• Western New England: 6-0, 1-0 CNE
• Nichols College: 4-1, 0-1 CNE

How it Happened:

The Bison, who come into Monday night's contest forcing a high turnover count and 24 steals per game, picked up the first bucket of the game after winning the tipoff to quickly take the 2-0 lead. That lead would be the only lead Nichols would hold for the entire game as Western New England would catch fire early and would continue to pour it on Nichols. Emma Novajasky had Western New England's first field goal of the game from Lilly Hedge to get the ball rolling. The hoop started an 8-0 run in favor of the hosts as Novajasky contributed four points while Hedge had a pair, and Shaina Cooney would also get on the scoreboard for the Golden Bears. Nichols would stay close, forcing a turnover by WNE and steal from Adriana Romano, who would score on the other end, as WNE led just 11-7 with four minutes to play. There would be plenty of scoring had in the final 2:30 of the opening quarter as Western New England would put up eight points while Nichols had just two to take a 12-point lead, 23-11, after one. Erin Reen, Caitlyn Hunt, Sophie Hedge, Emma Kahn, and Novajasky all contributed for the Golden Bears in the final minutes. WNE shot 7/15 from the field in the opening quarter while heading to the free throw line 14 total times, hitting nine shots.

The Golden Bears would continue to increase their lead as Kahn would drop a three that gave the Golden Bears a 28-14 lead. Cooney would increase Western New England's lead to 18 with 7:22 to play with a layup. Nichols would get back within 14 after Angie Coletti picked up a steal and a layup. From there, the Golden Bears would pick up their first 20-point lead of the game when Nora Young grabbed an offensive rebound for the Golden Bears and was able to put that through the nets, seeing WNE double up Nichols 40-20. Western New England would see Lilly Hedge score a bucket plus get a foul shot that would be the final scoring of the second quarter, seeing WNE lead 44-23. The Golden Bears shot over 50% from the floor in the second half, hitting one three and knocking down 6/10 free throws.

Nichols would drop a three to open the third quarter, though the Golden Bears would sink seven of eight free throws in the early parts of the third quarter to continue to work the Bison, leading 51-26 with 7:37 to play in the third frame. Western New England would hold at least a 23-point lead for the entire third quarter. Paige Winter would contribute with a three-ball, Western New England's final hoop of the third, with 17 seconds left, which gave the blue and gold a 63-37 lead. The Golden Bears held Nichols to 16 points in the third quarter while scoring 19, their lowest total of the night, though they connected on 8/10 free throws overall.

The fourth quarter brought plenty of scoring for Western New England, as the Golden Bears would pull away from the Bison to come away with a massive win against one of the highest-scoring teams in Division III to open the season. Colleen Furlong would get three points after driving to the cup while getting fouled in the process, giving the Golden Bears a 26-point lead, 67-41. WNE would lead by 30 for the first time in the game after Abby Marasco would pick up a pass from Paige Winter and would lay the ball into the cup with 2:40 to play, giving the Golden Bears a 79-49 lead. The WNE senior would finish with six points on the night, including the final four overall, as Western New England would take control of the game early and never look back, burying the Bison of Nichols College by a final score of 89-57.

Inside the Lines:

• Five Golden Bears were in double figures on Monday night, including both Emma Novajasky and Lilly Hedge, who both recorded double-doubles with 12 points and 11 rebounds each. Novajasky shot 5/6 from the field and 1/1 from deep, grabbing three assists and three steals. Hedge was 10/11 from the free throw line while picking up two assists and two blocks. Paige Winter (12 points, 6 assists), Shaina Cooney (3/5 FG, 7 rebounds), and Nora Young (10 points, 5 rebounds) were all in double figures.
• As a team, Western New England shot over 50% from the floor while cashing in four three-pointers and going 29/43 from the free throw line, their most free throws made and attempted this season.
• The Golden Bears drastically out-rebounded Nichols 56-17 in the game. Nichols came into the game ranked 414/415 in rebound margin.
• WNE held Nichols to their lowest point total of the season through five games. Nichols had previously scored 100, 89, 97, and 105 points on the season.
• Abrianna Vazquez came into the game averaging just under 30 points a game for Nichols and was held to just ten points overall, going 3/18 from the field and 0/6 from deep.
• The Golden Bears have ripped off the last seven games over Nichols, putting up over 80 points in six of those seven matchups, including tonight.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England women's basketball's busy week, four games in six days, will continue on Wednesday, December 4, at 5:30 PM at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center when the University of Hartford visits WNE for a CNE game.