SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 1, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team fell just short in the Conference of New England women's basketball championship game at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center on Saturday afternoon, losing to the second-seeded Endicott College Gulls by a final score of 64-58. 

Records:

• Western New England: 24-3
• Endicott College: 22-5

How it Happened:

In what was a closely contested game. Endicott jumped out to a quick start with their two leading scorers, Sarah Dempsey, and Emma Shinney getting going early. Shaina Cooney had the first hoop for the Golden Bears two minutes into the game, cutting Endicott's lead in half. The Gulls held their lead until Western New England would go on an 8-0 scoring run, led by two threes, one from Perry Blasetti and another from Lilly Hedge, which gave the Golden Bears their first lead of the game, taking it 10-6. Endicott roared back to tie the game at ten as Libby Fleming helped Endicott on the offensive end. EC took a 15-14 lead after one quarter of play, coming up with five of the final seven points in the opening quarter. The Gulls shot 7/18 from the field in the frame, going 1/3 from deep. Western New England made three first quarter triples but shot just 5/13 overall. 

The Golden Bears and Gulls went back and forth through the first three buckets of the second quarter as Nora Young and Caitlyn Hunt contributed for WNE while Emma Shinney continued to shine for the Gulls. Sophie Hedge would go on a self 5-0 run, capping it off with a three ball, giving WNE a 23-17 lead with 6:30 to play in the second. Western New England would continue to hold that lead after Emma Kahn would splash a three with 2:30 left, seeing the WNE lead hold at six. Endicott would again get back into the game, sinking five free throws to end the half, getting WNE's lead down to just one, 28-27. The Gulls struggled from the field in the second but were saved by their seven made free throws. EV shot just 2/13 overall. WNE was 6/12 from the field in the second, going 2/4 from deep. 

Shaina Cooney opened the third quarter with a three-ball on an assist from Perry Blasetti giving Western New England the early edge. Cora Nadeau would respond with a three of her own for Endicott, dropping the lead back to one. Endicott would waste little time regaining a lead as Shinney would get to the rim and score a layup with 7:44 left in the third quarter, giving Endicott a 35-34 lead. WNE would rebound and come up with the lead again with 3:12 remaining as Caitlyn Hunt would get the ball inside and come up with two, giving WNE a 38-37 lead. Nora Young's late free throws would give WNE a five-point lead with 29 seconds left but the Gulls stole the momentum with a layup and a free throw, getting EC back within two after three quarters of play. 

Endicott turned the game in their favor in the early goings of the fourth and final frame of the championship game. Sarah Dempsey had the first three points for Endicott to begin the quarter, but Sophie Hedge responded with a three, giving WNE a 47-45 lead. The Gulls would then go on a 6-0 scoring run, with Dempsey putting down four points and Tenley Wallin a jumper, giving Endicott a four-point lead with 5:38 to go. WNE would quickly tie the game back up at 51 and then again at 53 with 3:40 left in the contest. A huge triple from Endicott's Nadeau would give the Gulls a three-point lead but Emma Kahn would answer with a layup, getting WNE back within one, 56-55. Sarah Dempsey had the next three for the Gulls, cashing in on another and-one opportunity, this time with 1:14 to go, giving Endicott a 59-55 lead. WNE would get back within two after Lilly Hedge dropped a three, but the Gulls would be clutch from the free throw line down the stretch while the WNE offense would be stymied as Endicott would take the 2024-2025 CNE Championship, knocking off the top-seeded Golden Bears 64-58.  

Inside the Lines:

• Emma Kahn led WNE with 16 points, going 7/17 from the field, picking up six rebounds, an assist, and a block. 
• Lilly Hedge had ten points on 3/9 shooting, picking up seven rebounds and four assists. 
• Sophie Hedge was also in double-figures, coming up with ten points, going 4/6 from the field and 2/2 from deep. 
• Endicott's Sarah Dempsey, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player, scored 21 points on 8/15 shooting, collecting seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. 
• Emma Shinney played all 40 minutes for the Gulls, scoring 18 points, ten of which came at the free throw line. 
• Endicott outscored the Golden Bears 22-14 in the final quarter. 
• WNE falls in the conference championship game after winning it all last season over the University of New England. 
• As a team, WNE hit eight threes and shot a tick under 40% overall. Endicott shot nearly the same but went to the free throw line 22 times compared to Western New England's 12. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will await to see if they will be selected for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The announcement will come on Monday. March 3 at 2:30 PM.