SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 24, 2024) – The Western New England women's basketball team defeated the University of New England on Saturday afternoon, crowning themselves Commonwealth Coast Conference Champions for the first time since 2018-2019. 

Records:

• Western New England: 22-5
• University of New England: 21-7

How it Happened:

Western New England looked to snap University of New England's 10-game win streak on Saturday in the conference championship game, where Western New England last won the conference championship game in 2018-2019. The Nor'easters came around with the first five points of the game to come away with an early 5-0 lead when Faye Veilleux and Juliana Tracey came dropped hoops for the road team. Shaina Cooney got Western New England on the board at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter scooping and scoring a layup on an assist from Lilly Hedge. The Nor'easters would come around with ten of the first 12 points of the game, taking an early eight-point lead. Juliana Tracey splashed two threes to set the tone early for the Nor'easters. The Golden Bears grabbed the next five points of the game when Lilly Hedge got to the lane for a layup while Emma Kahn drained a three as the score moved to 10-7 in favor of the road team. UNE went on a 6-0 run to grab their biggest lead of the game to take a nine-point lead after UNE's leading scorer Jordyn Franzen connected on a layup, giving UNE a 16-7 lead. WNE got a late three from Colleen Furlong that ended the quarter with a six-point lead in favor UNE, 16-10. 

The Golden Bears got the crowd back into the game right away to open the second quarter when Emma Novajasky scooped and scored a layup while being fouled, getting Western New England back within three points of the lead. UNE would continue to pressure the Golden Bears on the offensive end, going up again by six points with 6:11 to play in the second half. The Golden Bears got within one point of the lead after Shina Cooney hit a three while Tara Laugeni would drive to the paint to get WNE within one, 21-20. Furlong would end the second quarter with another triple, while UNE hit back-to-back layups, giving the Nor'easters a 25-23  halftime lead. 

The Golden Bears would not be able to score a basket until the 6:41 mark of the third quarter to open the second half though UNE would connect on their opening shot of the half and then would not score another field goal until the 3:53 mark of the quarter. The Golden Bears would come around and take their first lead of the game when Paige Winter splashed a three, giving WNE a 30-27 lead.  Winter came around with another three at 4:11 of the third quarter on an assist from Cooney, giving WNE a 33-29 lead. UNE would get within one point of the lead again when Faye Veilleux drove to the lane to score, pushing the score to 35-34. Both teams would exchange buckets at the end of the third quarter, giving WNE a one-point lead at 37-36. 

The Nor'easters would come away with the first four points of the fourth quarter to re-take the lead at 40-37. Lilly Hedge would drive to the bucket and score while drawing a foul which tied the game at 40. A free throw would put UNE ahead by one while Shaina Cooney would connect on two free throws to give Western New England a 42-41 lead. After over two minutes of no scoring, WNE's would see Hedge knock down a clutch three with the shot clock expiring, giving Western new England a 45-41 lead. UNE would hit two free throws at the 1:19 mark which brought the road team within two points at 45-43. With 35 seconds to play, Western New England would see Hedge come around with another clutch hoop, hitting a jumper from the free throw line that gave the Golden Bears a four-point lead again. Western New England would grow their lead to five when Paige Winter hit two free throws. UNE's Jordyn Franzen hit a three right after the free throws which again brought UNE within two. Shaina Cooney would hit one of two free throws while Jordyn Franzen came around with a jumper that got UNE back within one point of the lead with 12 seconds remaining. The Golden Bears would throw the ball away under the baseline with those 12 seconds left which gave UNE the final possession of the game. The Nor'easters had a chance to win the championship at the buzzer though fell short, clanking a shot off the rim, crowning Western New England 2023-2024 Commonwealth Coast Conference Champions.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears win the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. WNE wins the championship on their home floor for the first time since 2007-2008. 
• Lilly Hedge collected 11 points, including five clutch points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to push Western New England to victory. Shaina Cooney finished the night with ten points, six rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. 
• Off the bench, Western New England saw Tara Laugeni and Paige Winter both score eight points to lead WNE.  
• The Golden Bears took 26 three-point shots out of 54 total shots in the game. WNE hit seven of those 26 threes. 
• The blue and gold went 7/10 from the free throw line, including 6/9 in the final quarter. 
• UNE's Faye Veilleux led the visitors with 21 points, shooting 10/22 from the field while grabbing 13 rebounds. Jordyn Franzen dropped 14 points of the Nor'easters, shooting 5/13 from the field. 
• UNE graduates four seniors, Rachael Rooney, Jordyn Franzen, Faye Veilleux, and Juliana Tracey, and a one fifth-year, Kaylee Beyor. Congratulations on outstanding careers, Nor'easters!
• The Golden Bears beat UNE for the third time this season and first time in the conference championship game. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will head to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2019-2020. The Golden Bears will find out their opponent and location on Monday, February 26 at 2:30 PM on the NCAA Selection Show. To watch the selection show, click here. UNE sees their season come to an end with a 21-7 record.