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Western New England University

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WBB 1.10
66
Winner U New England UNE 6-8,4-1 CNE
54
Western New Eng. WNE 9-4,3-2 CNE
Winner
U New England UNE
6-8,4-1 CNE
66
Final
54
Western New Eng. WNE
9-4,3-2 CNE
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
U New England UNE 10 12 17 27 66
Western New Eng. WNE 15 17 10 12 54

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Golden Bears Get Swept Up By The Storm, Fall 66-54 At Home To UNE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 10, 2026) – The Golden Bears welcomed the Nor'Easters to town for their first home contest of 2026. After the opening half being back and forth for most of the time, the Golden Bears and leading scorer Sophie Hedge would end the half on a 13-3 run. The second half was a different animal for the Golden Bears as they were outscored 44-22 thanks to 10 points from Grace Boucher in the quarter, including two key threes. The Golden Bears fell 66-54.

Records:
Western New England: 9-4, 3-2 CNE
University of New England: 6-8, 4-1 CNE

How it Happened:
First Quarter:
  • The first quarter went back and forth for much of the opening ten minutes. The Nor'Easters started with five consecutive points before the Golden Bears answered with seven of their own. Sophie Hedge got the team started with a triple at 1:31 into the game.
  • The teams traded shots back and forth, with six different Golden Bears scoring. Maddie Werner and Grace Boucher led the Nor'Easters in the first, with each having three points.
  • Sophie Hedge's two triples, including one at the end of the quarter, were the difference in the first for WNE as they scored the final five points of the quarter and took a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.
Second Quarter:
  • Erin Reen kept the Golden Bear momentum running with a three-pointer twenty-five seconds into the quarter. However, the shot trading continued as UNE answered every time WNE looked to pull away.
  • Emily Picher would tie the game up at nineteen for the Nor'Easters 3:12 into the second quarter before the Golden Bears went on a 13-3 run to end the first half. The Golden Bears went on the run as a team once again. Four different scorers found the basket during the run to give WNE a 32-22 lead at halftime.
  • Sophie Hedge led WNE with eight points in the first half and was one of eight different scorers for the Golden Bears. Perry Blasetti led WNE on the glass by picking up five rebounds in the opening half. UNE was led by Emily Picher's eight points.
Third Quarter:
  • The Nor'Easters started the second half with the opening basket, but Hannah Blake would take over for the Golden Bears and keep their lead above double digits with the first five Golden Bear points of the third quarter.
  • The Golden Bears continued to answer any type of run UNE went on. That was until the end of the third quarter, when UNE put together a 9-0 run to conclude the quarter. Four different players had a hand in collapsing the WNE lead to three points entering the fourth quarter.
  • UNE shots 50% from the field in the third quarter. Seven UNE players had points in the third quarter as the Nor'Easters spread the ball around and found the open shooter to cut into the Golden Bear lead, which grew to 13 at one point during the quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
  • The Nor'Easters continued their second-half success with an early triple from Hannah Cook just over a minute into the final quarter to give UNE its first lead since the opening quarter.
  • The final quarter would go back and forth after that, with each team finding a much-needed basket when in tight situations. However, it was Grace Boucher's three-pointer with 3:27 left that was a real difference-maker. It felt like momentum was turning back towards WNE before that shot.
  • That three from Boucher led to a 9-1 run from the Nor'Easters, which proved to be the demise of the Golden Bears. They lost the contest 66-52.
Inside the Lines:
  • The Golden Bears fell to the Nor'Easters in their first home competition of 2026, 66-52.
  • The Golden Bears had a thirteen-point lead in the second half, but UNE would bounce back and outscore the Golden Bears by 22 in the half to get the win.
  • Grace Boucher and Emily Picher led the Nor'Easters with each scoring thirteen points. Boucher shot 62.5% from the field, and Picher shot 41.7%.
  • Gabby Soter led UNE in rebounds, with six. Grace Boucher led the team in assists, with three.
  • Sophie Hedge led the Golden Bears with 18 points, shooting 35.7% from the field. The Golden Bears had 19 turnovers in the game compared to only ten from the Nor'Easters.
Up Next on the Schedule:
  • The team will travel to Nichols College on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, for their next conference clash in Dudley, Massachusetts, at 5:00 PM.
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