SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 7, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team opened their 2025-26 campaign with a convincing 67-55 victory over the visiting Pride of Springfield College on Friday night from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, led by senior Perry Blasetti, who scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, had four steals, and dished two assists in the victory. 

Records:

• Western New England: 1-0
• Springfield College: 0-1

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The visiting Pride had the upper hand in the frame, scoring the first four points of the quarter until Erin Reen picked up a layup in the paint two minutes into the quarter to get the Golden Bears on the scoreboard. Springfield then went on a 7-0 scoring run to take an 11-2 advantage after a triple from Stefany Padula. 
• The Golden Bears used back-to-back three-point shots from Perry Blasetti to get back into the game while Lottia Barnes picked up her first collegiate basket with 2:34 left in the quarter, seeing WNE then trail by four, 14-10, where the quarter would end. 
• The Pride made six of 15 field goals in the opening frame while WNE shot just 4/13 overall. 

Second Quarter:

• The Pride continued to score to begin the second frame before the Golden Bears were able to make a comeback in the later stages of the quarter. Just five points were scored between the two teams in the first five minutes of the game. Paige Winter came alive on offense for WNE, scoring a three and a layup on back-to-back possessions to get WNE within three, 22-19. 
• A scoring run of 12 of the final 14 points of the quarter belonged to Western New England, who took their first lead of the game after Develyn McDonald picked up three points while Katie Regan and Perry Blasetti got the blue and gold the lead at the break, 26-22. 
• The Golden Bears made seven field goals in the quarter and held Springfield College to just 3/13 shooting overall. 

Third Quarter:

• The third quarter featured plenty of scoring, heavily favoring Western New England. Hannah Blake had WNE's first hoop of the third quarter, followed by a Sophie Hedge layup, extending WNE's lead to six. Winter continued her success from the floor with another three and layup, picking up ten points, giving WNE a 38-30 lead with 6:16 to play. 
• WNE's defense would suppress Springfield's offense in the final five minutes of the quarter, holding the Pride to just a pair of free throws while the Golden Bears picked up a double-digit lead, led by Blasetti, Hedge, and Sarah West, who all contributed late, seeing WNE lead by 16, 50-34 after the third frame. 
• The blue and gold made nine field goals in the quarter, four of which came from distance. Springfield managed just six shots in the quarter, but went 8/8 from the free throw line. 

Fourth Quarter:

• The Golden Bears held their double-digit lead throughout the quarter to take down the Pride on opening night. WNE picked up six quick points as Barnes, McDonald, and Regan all contributed, giving the Golden Bears a 56-38 lead. The Pride began to press WNE and its defense, but the Golden Bears remained strong, picking up six steals in the game while Springfield contributed 15 turnovers in the game. 
• A jump shot from Sophie Hedge iced the win for the Golden Bears with 1:27 to go, while free throws down the stretch from Paige Winter gave Western New England a 67-55 victory over the Pride, starting the season with a 1-0 record. 

Inside the Lines:

• Perry Blasetti led WNE with 19 points on 8/15 shooting, going 3/5 from deep, and collected six rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
• Paige Winter was 4/10 from the field, including 2/5 from deep, collecting 13 points. 
• Sophie Hedge was also in double figures in scoring, dropping 12 points and collecting four rebounds. 
• WNE shot 45% from the field in the game and hit eight threes. The Pride shot just 36% from the field, hitting three out of fifteen triples. 
• Amanda Leary led Springfield with 14 points and nine rebounds. 
• WNE takes down Springfield in the season opener for the second straight season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• A rare Monday home game is on the schedule next for WNE, hosting Rhode Island College on Monday, November 10 at 7:00 PM from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.