Women’s Basketball Unable To Conquer Previously Ranked Amherst On The Road, Fall 71-51

Box Score AMHERST, Mass. (January 19, 2026) – The Western New England women's basketball team had its second-worst shooting performance of the season on Monday night on the road at Amherst College, seeing the hosting Mammoths outscore WNE 29-7 in the third quarter, well on their way to a 71-51 victory over the Golden Bears.

Records:

Western New England: 11-5
Amherst College: 12-4

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

Scoring didn't start until two minutes into the game as both teams started slowly from the field. Sophie Hedge opened the game with WNE's first bucket, a triple on an assist from Paige Winter, giving the Golden Bears a quick lead. Hedge had Western New England's first six, starting out a quick 2/2 from the outside.
Amherst quickly took the lead and never looked back from there, going on a 9-0 run to flip the deficit into a lead, taking a 9-6 lead over the Golden Bears with 3:33 remaining in the quarter. Hedge continued to score for the Golden Bears, scoring all nine points for the Golden Bears in the quarter.
In the final two minutes of the quarter, Amherst exploded for ten quick points, hitting from deep twice in the final minute to take a 19-9 lead at the end of the frame. Western New England struggled from the floor, minus Hedge, shooting just 3/17 overall.

Second Quarter:

Lottia Barnes had the first point not scored by Hedge for Western New England in the early stages of the second quarter. Western New England's first field goal didn't come until Perry Blasetti drove to the lane to score a bucket with 7:42 remaining, seeing Amherst lead by double digits, 24-13. Olivia Chrzan had the next hoop for the Golden Bears that pulled them back within nine with 6:33 to play.
The Mammoths couldn't break the game open following a trio of free throws that gave the hosts a 14-point lead as Blasetti, Barnes, and Hedge all scored for the Golden Bears in the final three minutes, with the Mammoths scoring in between. WNE fell behind by 12 at the break, 35-23.
WNE shot just 35% from the field in the quarter while Amherst shot 37%, doomed by their outside shooting, going 1/7 from deep, keeping WNE in the game.

Third Quarter:

Amherst got hot from the field quickly in the third quarter and never looked back, burying the Golden Bears with 29 points in the frame to WNE's seven to take total control of the contest. Olivia Soenens led Amherst in the quarter overall, scoring 16 points on her own, including four triples.
Western New England made just one field goal in the quarter, their worst quarter of the season, going 1/10 from the floor. Amherst shot an outrageous 7/8 from deep in the quarter, taking a 64-30 lead over the Golden Bears.

Fourth Quarter:

The Golden Bears showed strong poise in the fourth quarter, mounting a comeback, though not enough, outscoring the Mammoths by double digits in the frame. Lottia Barnes scored for the Golden Bears to open the quarter and was up to ten points with eight minutes to play in the game.
Western New England continued to get offensive production in the fourth from Barnes, along with Sarah West, Katie Regan, Devlyn McDonald, Olivia Chrzan, and Eliana Wood. WNE ended up outscoring the Mammoths 21-7 in the fourth quarter overall but dropped the nonconference contest 71-51.

Inside the Lines:

Sophie Hedge has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, continuing that streak tonight, putting up 12 points in the game. Hedge grabbed two rebounds in the game as well.
Lottia Barnes dropped 12 points as well, shooting 50% from the field while grabbing a rebound and an assist.
In the fourth quarter, Western New England shot 50% from the field, going 10/20. Amherst shot 2/14 overall in the fourth, allowing WNE to make a comeback.
For the game, Western New England shot 31% from the field, their second-worst shooting performance of the season.
WNE had 15 turnovers in the game after their performance on Saturday afternoon, which saw the Blue and Gold commit just seven.

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