Golden Bears Fall to UNE in CCC Semifinals, 77-60

O'Neill records 13 points, six assists and three rebounds in final collegiate contest

BIDDEFORD, Maine (February 22, 2018) – The fourth-seeded Western New England University women's basketball team fell to top-seeded University of New England, 77-60, in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament on Thursday night at Harold Alfond Forum. 

With the win, UNE (21-6) advances to Saturday's CCC Championship game to take on No. 2 seed Roger Williams, which defeated Endicott in Thursday's other semifinal contest. Western New England wraps up its 2017-18 campaign at 17-10.

Top Performers
• Sophomore guard Emily Farrell (New Fairfield, Conn.) led the Golden Bears with a team-high 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Farrell shot 5-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
• Senior guard Dorothy O'Neill (Staten Island, N.Y.) finished with 13 points, six assists and three rebounds in her final collegiate contest, while sophomore forward Courtney Carlson (Woodbury, Conn.) added 13 points, three blocks and two boards.

• UNE senior forward Olivia Shaw (Saco, Maine) fueled the Nor'easters with game-highs in both points (22) and rebounds (16) to go with four assists, one block and one steal.
• Sophomore guard Jocelyn Chaput (Nashua, N.H.) recorded 15 points, eight boards, six steals and three assists, while classmate Ashley Coneys (Dover, N.H.) posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, one steal and one assist.

Game Review
The Golden Bears made their first five field goal attempts and led 13-7 midway through the opening quarter. UNE pulled ahead for the first time (18-15) on a three-point play by Coneys with 2:26 remaining in the period, and the Nor'easters held a 21-18 edge at the conclusion of the frame after junior Meghan Gilhool (Montrose, Pa.) sank a half court three-pointer at the buzzer.

Despite shooting just 34.8 percent (8-of-23) in the first quarter, the Nor'easters benefited from nine offensive rebounds and six Western New England turnovers.

The Golden Bears regained the lead (25-24) on a fast break layup by freshman Lauren Chadwick (Gardiner, Maine) 4:26 into the second quarter, but UNE answered with an 8-0 run to open up a seven-point advantage with 2:30 remaining in the half.

Farrell led Western New England with 11 first half points, while O'Neill and Gilhool added seven each as the Golden Bears trailed 35-29 at the break.

The Nor'easters established their first double-digit lead (48-38) on a layup by Chaput with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

UNE stretched its advantage to 15 (53-38) just over a minute later after Shaw scored five straight points, and the home team opened up a 20-point cushion (58-38) heading into the fourth.

The Golden Bears found their offensive rhythm early in the fourth quarter, as they closed the gap to 12 (60-48) 2:36 into the frame with the help of back-to-back three-pointers from O'Neill.

Western New England was unable to draw closer, however, as UNE's big third quarter proved to be too much for the Golden Bears to overcome.

Notes
• UNE outrebounded Western New England 48-29. The Nor'easters' 19 offensive rebounds led to 22 second chance points.
• UNE shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the field in the third quarter and outscored the Golden Bears 23-9.
• O'Neill will graduate as Western New England's all-time leader in games started (111), while also ranking second in assists (358) and three-point field goals (173).