SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 3, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team was guided by junior guard
Sophie Hedge, who dropped 24 points on 9/15 shooting, going 4/6 from the outside, helping the Golden Bears pick up their first Conference of New England (CNE) victory of the season over the visiting Hawks of the University of Hartford, 74-62.
Records:
- Western New England: 5-3, 1-1 CNE
- University of Hartford: 2-5, 0-1 CNE
How it Happened:
First Quarter:
- A fast-moving opening quarter saw the Hawks score the first nine of 12 points to begin the game with a quick six-point lead. Paige Winter had the opening triple for the Golden Bears before the Hawks got hot from the floor, leading 9-3 after the first three and a half minutes of play.
- Sophie Hedge had Western New England's next nine points, hitting a trio of triples from the outside to tie the game at 12 with 4:34 remaining. Hartford's Ava Naszimento connected on a jumper, followed by a layup from Kendall Rieman to get the visitors back ahead by four with 3:41 remaining.
- Lottia Barnes and Perry Blasetti had the final combined six points for the Golden Bears in the quarter that saw the high-scoring frame end where the game started, a draw, 18-18. The Hawks shot an efficient 7/12 from the floor while WNE was a tick behind, shooting 7/14 overall, but 4/6 from distance to remain tied with the Hawks.
Second Quarter:
- Neither team had any points until two minutes into the quarter when the Hawks got on the board first. The Golden Bears then used a quick 6-0 run, getting four points from Sophie Hedge and a layup from Hannah Blake to go down, taking a 26-23 lead.
- The Golden Bears had ten points in the quarter in the final 2:45. Hedge and Erin Reen picked up a pair of points while Perry Blasetti and Sarah West hit from the outside in the final minute, giving Western New England a nine-point lead at the half, 36-27.
- Hartford hit just four shots in the second quarter, shooting 4/15 overall. WNE picked up six buckets, including two more from the outside.
Third Quarter:
- WNE's first double-digit lead of the game came on the opening basket of the quarter as Blasetti's point total continued to expand. The Golden Bears and Hawks exchanged buckets heading into the midway points of the quarter, seeing WNE lead 49-37.
- The Hawks battled back within ten before Devlyn McDonald and Blasetti had the final two buckets in the frame for the Golden Bears which saw Western New England take a 55-41 lead after 30 minutes of action.
- Both teams were rather inefficient from the floor, WNE shooting 8/19 and Hartford 5/12 overall in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
- Perry Blasetti and Olivia Chrzan gave the blue and gold its largest lead of the night at 17 just a minute into the frame, while the lead continued to grow to as many as 21 following a triple from Sophie Hedge, who continued to pour it on the Hawks, with WNE leading 64-43 with 7:46 remaining.
- With 2:56 remaining in the game, the Golden Bears' lead grew to as many as 23, 72-49, before Hartford's best stretch of offense ended the game, cutting the WNE lead down to 12, but it would not be enough, seeing Western New England come up with a 74-62 victory.
- WNE shot 70% from the field in the final frame to bury the Hawks before the late run. Hartford shot 6/14 from the field, four of which were triples.
Inside the Lines:
- Sophie Hedge scored a career-high 24 points, shooting 9/15 from the field and 4/6 beyond the arc. Hedge also picked up six rebounds and a steal in the win.
- Perry Blasetti collected 18 points on 8/14 shooting, coming up with five rebounds, five assists, and a pair of steals.
- WNE shot an even 50% from the floor and hit eight triples in the victory.
- Hartford was led by sharpshooter Ella Marchesani, who picked up 19 points, splashing four threes in the loss.
- Western New England improves to 5-0 since Hartford's entrance into the CNE.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The Golden Bears are right back in action tomorrow, Thursday, December 4, at 5:00 PM, traveling a short distance to Elms College.
