BIDDEFORD, Maine (January 4, 2025) – A late three-point shot from the hosting Nor'easters of the University of New England would be to the demise of the red-hot Golden Bears, who saw their ten-game win streak come to a halt on Saturday afternoon in conference play, falling 56-52, losing for the first time on the season.

Records:

• Western New England: 10-1, 3-1 CNE
• University of New England: 6-5, 3-1 CNE

How it Happened:

The Nor'easters started the game early, winning the tip and getting a bucket on their first possession of the game when sophomore Sydney Jenisch was on the scoreboard to give UNE a quick 2-0 lead. Shaina Cooney picked up where she left off from Thursday night's win over Westfield State, adding the first two points to the scoreboard for the blue and gold. Lilly Hedge had the next bucket for the Golden Bears, coming away with their first lead of the game. Colleen Furlong had the assist for the Golden Bears on the make from Hedge. A back-and-forth first quarter would see UNE begin a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the four minutes of elapsed time in the opening frame as Faye Veilleux would connect on a layup to give the Nor'easters a 10-6 lead. UNE's lead would get to as many as six in the first quarter as first-year Maddy Werner would contribute on the offensive end for UNE. Western New England would catch fire from deep in the final 1:30 of the first half as Paige Winter and Sophie Hedge would drop back-to-back three-point shots to come away to even the score at 14. Two free throws on UNE's final possession of the quarter would give the hosts a 16-14 lead after one. Western New England nailed just four total field goals in the first half, shooting just 4/18 overall.

UNE had the better of the play in the second quarter, though not before Western New England would get within one point after Shaina Cooney would score a layup while also converting on a foul shot, getting a quick nine points on the afternoon with 7:38 to play in the second quarter. UNE would let the Golden Bears take the lead in the second after Caitlyn Hunt knocked home a jumper and a layup on back-to-back possessions, giving the blue and gold a 21-20 lead. Sydney Jenisch's three-ball with 5:52 to play in the third quarter would give UNE a two-point lead, while Maddy Werner would move into double figures in scoring for the hosts with four straight points of her own. UNE's lead would hit six for the second time in the game and then would grow to seven with just 28 seconds left in the half. Emma Novajasky would pick up two late free throws for the Golden Bears, which saw UNE take a 34-29 lead after the first half. The Golden Bears shot significantly better in the second quarter, nailing 6/10 shots, though UNE came away with eight field goals, two from distance to lead the way.

The Golden Bears would turn the scoring around in the third quarter, outscoring UNE 14-7 overall, holding UNE to just three field goals overall. Kaia Anderson had her first three points of the game for UNE early in the third after scoring a three-ball, though it would be all Western New England from there. Lilly Hedge would drop a pair of free throws, and following a spurt of no scoring in the game for a minute and a half, Paige Winter would drop her second three of the game that brought the Golden Bears back within three. Perry Blasetti would tie the game at 39 with a three-point make of her own while UNE's Grace Boucher would put the Nor'easters in front 41-39 with 1:12 remaining. The final four points of the quarter would fall in favor of the Golden Bears as Nora Young would hit one of two free throws while Winter would connect again from deep to give the Golden Bears a 43-41 lead after three quarters of play. Three of Western New England's four makes
in the quarter would come from distance.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter would see UNE drop four free throws in the first 3+ minutes of the frame, which would be the lone points of the quarter until Perry Blasetti would rain in another three for the Golden Bears, giving WNE a one-point lead, 46-45. UNE would shoot poorly from the floor in the fourth quarter, dropping just two field goals, though they would be aided by their free throw shooting, which proved to be the difference in the end. WNE would lead by two with less than three minutes remaining in the game before Veilleux would tie the game at 49 with a layup. WNE's last lead of the game came with 1:39 to play when Emma Kahn drove to the hoop to score, giving the blue and gold a 51-49 lead. From there, UNE would strike on a pair of free throws while a dagger three-point shot from Veilleux would put the Nor'easters ahead 54-52, and UNE would never look back, taking the game 56-52, handing Western New England their first loss of the season.

Inside the Lines:

• Shaina Cooney was the lone Golden Bear in double figures in the game, scoring 12 points in total while grabbing eight rebounds and three assists. Cooney was held to just two second-half points.
• Western New England shot 30% from the floor in the game while making just 12/18 free throws in the game, to their demise.
• Faye Veilleux had 15 points, none bigger than the three-pointer late in the game to ice the game for the Nor'easters.
• Maddy Werner and Sydney Jenisch were both in double figures in scoring for the Nor'easters overall.
• UNE shot 5/25 in the second half as a team, though they were 10/10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to come away with the win.
• There were ten different lead changes in the game and ten ties overall.
• UNE snaps Western New England's three-game win streak over them overall. The last three games have seen neither team reach more than 56 points overall.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will return to the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center on Tuesday, January 7, for another big conference game against Roger Williams University at 5:30 PM.