SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 7, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team saw four of their own record double figures in scoring on Tuesday night at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, defeating Roger Williams University by a final score of 76-63. Shaina Cooney (20), Lilly Hedge (15), Nora Young (14), and Emma Kahn (14) provided much of the offense in the victory for the Golden Bears.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-1, 4-1 CNE
• Roger Williams University: 7-5, 4-1 CNE

How it Happened:

The visiting Hawks came away with the first four points of the game in the first 1:12 of the opening quarter to quickly take a 4-0 lead. Emma Kahn would get Western New England on the scoreboard with a triple, on an assist from Lilly Hedge. Hedge would follow up with a free throw to tie the game at four. The Hawks would take their largest lead of the game, five points, after Lilli Clark rattled home a jumper to give the Hawks a 9-4 edge. Western New England would use their six-foot centers to get back in the game quickly as Shaina Cooney and Nora Young would record back-to-back hoops to get right back into the game. The Cooney-Young combination recorded the next 12 points overall for the Golden Bears, which kept Western New England around in the first quarter. Roger Williams would shoot 8/12 from the floor in the opening quarter, going 2/3 from distance, taking a 19-17 lead after one quarter of play. WNE made seven of their 18 shots in the opening quarter.

Nora Young would pick up the first four points overall in the second quarter for Western New England, picking up two layups inside the paint on assists from both Perry Blasetti and Caitlyn Hunt, which erased Roger Williams' first quarter lead, giving the Golden Bears a 21-19 lead. Roger Williams would get their lead up to six again with 3:39 to play in the frame after RWU's leading scorer, Sophia Coppola, would connect on a pair from the free throw line, giving the Hawks a 29-23 lead. Western New England would continue to battle back, leaning on Nora Young to get their lead back. The graduate student had seven points for the blue and gold in the quarter to lead the way back into the lead. The Golden Bears would get a deep three-point shot from Emma Kahn with 1:08 to play in the second frame before Elizabeth Dufrane responded for RWU with a jumper. The lead would go back in favor of Western New England with 33 seconds remaining in the half as the Golden Bears lead 34-33 after two quarters, thanks to a layup from Emma Novajasky. WNE hit another seven field goals in the second, while RWU cooled off, shooting just 5/14 overall.

Western New England would begin to build a lead of their own to start the third quarter after Shaina Cooney and Lilly Hedge would score buckets underneath the basket while Emma Novajasky was on the scoreboard again with 6:42 to play, giving WNE a 42-36 lead. Lilli Clark's free throws dropped WNE's lead down to one, though five straight points from Lilly Hedge would lead Western New England back up to an eight-point lead with 38 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Golden Bears would outscore RWU 17-12 overall in the third quarter and would come away with a six-point, 51-45 lead.

Chloe Richardson, who hit her first three three-point shots for RWU in the game, nailed a shot to open the fourth quarter for the Hawks, though it would be answered by Nora Young, who cashed in from deep for the first time wearing blue and gold, giving the Golden Bears a six-point lead. Emma Kahn would have the next bucket for WNE with 6:19 to play, also a three-ball, which increased Western New England's lead to 57-48. Shaina Cooney would put the icing on the cake for Western New England, as the senior led the team in points and would give the Golden Bears their first double-digit lead of the game at the midway point of the final quarter, giving WNE a 61-50 lead. The Golden Bears would maintain their double-digit lead through the final 4:58 of the game, getting late free throw makes from Lilly Hedge and Paige Winter to come away with a 76-63 win, handing Roger Williams their first conference loss of the season.

Inside the Lines:

• Four Golden Bears reached double figures on Tuesday night, including Shaina Cooney, who converted a season-high 20 points off 8/11 shooting, going a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line. Cooney also picked up four rebounds, an assist, and two steals in the win.
• Lilly Hedge had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win, her third double-double of the season. The senior also had five assists and a career-high five steals in the game.
• Both Nora Young and Emma Kahn picked up 14 points each for Western New England. Young shot 6/8 from the field and 1/1 from deep, scooping seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Kahn cashed in three triples for the Golden Bears overall and picked up two steals and an assist in the win.
• Western New England recorded 40 points in the paint in the win and picked up 24 points off turnovers in the game. Roger Williams had just 16 points in the paint and six points off turnovers.
• RWU was led by Sophia Coppola, who splashed three threes in the game, though she had six turnovers, scoring 16 points. Chloe Richardson hit four of six threes for the Hawks.
• After falling in their previous seven games, Western New England has defeated RWU in back-to-back games played. The 76 points for WNE are the most since 1987 against the Hawks.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears head back on the road to face the CNE's final unbeaten team in conference play, traveling to Endicott College, who defeated the University of New England on Tuesday night. The Golden Bears and Gulls will meet on Saturday. January 11 at 1:00 PM.