SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 14, 2024) – The Western New England women's basketball team used a balance attack on Wednesday night to defeat the University of Hartford Hawks by a final score of 69-42 from the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
Records:
- Western New England: 19–5
- University of Hartford: 10–13
How it Happened:
An early start for the Golden Bears would give Western New England the lead, a lead the blue and gold would hold onto for the entirety of the game.
Lilly Hedge opened the game with the first scoring play for Western New England as the Golden Bears opened the game on an 8-2 run, getting buckets from
Hedge, Shaina Cooney, and
Colleen Furlong early. The Golden Bears were clicking on the offensive end in the first quarter, scoring nine field goals on 9/15 shooting, which included two triples, one from
Emma Novajasky and the other from
Paige Winter.
Caitlyn Hunt contributed the final hoop of the first quarter for the Golden Bears, giving WNE a 21-10 lead after one quarter of play.
Hartford cashed just five field goals in the opening half, shooting 1/9 from distance and connecting on eight of 14 free throws. Western New England would put forth their best quarter of the game in the second quarter, holding Hartford to nine points while scoring 23 of their own.
Tara Laugeni scored the first hoop of the second quarter, which started a quick 6-0 run for Western New England, with help from
Lilly Hedge and
Erin Reen. Hartford would score three points in a row before the Golden Bears went on another mini-run, scoring eight straight points, coming off a three from both
Emma Kahn and the second of the night from
Emma Novajasky, while
Hedge dropped two free throws, which gave the Golden Bears a 35-13 lead with 4:30 to play in the quarter. WNE would keep the pressure on Hartford, with
Caitlyn Hunt and
Tara Laugeni closing out the quarter with buckets for the Golden Bears. WNE would take a 44-19 lead into the break, shooting over 58% from the field in the opening half.
The Golden Bears wouldn't get their first field goal of the second half until a three was buried again by junior
Emma Kahn, which gave Western New England a 29-point lead. The blue and gold would reach a 30-point lead when
Novajasky and
Hunt recorded free throws for WNE with three minutes to play in the third.
Hunt would bury her first three of the night with 2:26 to play in the quarter that had a 58-25 lead. WNE would come away with a 31-point lead to end the quarter, outscoring Hartford 14-8.
The Hawks offense would come alive in the fourth quarter, though it would be too late to mount a comeback on WNE. Hartford would hold WNE to just three field goals in the fourth, coming from
Kahn and
Sophie Hedge, though it would be too late for the Hawks to mount a comeback. Hartford would outscore Western New England 15-11 in the fourth quarter, though the Golden Bears would collect a 69-42 victory over the Hawks to grab their 19
th win of the season.
Inside the Lines:
- Four Golden Bears recorded double figures in scoring on the night. Liily Hedge led WNE with 11 points, while Emma Novajasky, Emma Kahn, and Caitlyn Hunt all had ten points each.
- WNE made just six field goals in the second half, though put away Hartford early to grab the win.
- The Golden Bears dropped seven threes in the win on 12 attempts.
- Both teams recorded 11 points off turnovers.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England women's basketball looks to capture the regular-season Commonwealth Coast Conference title on Saturday, February 17 at 12:00 pm, needing a win at Wentworth Institute of Technology to do so.
