Women's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker to UMass-Dartmouth

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (November 19, 2021) –  The Western New England women's basketball team dropped a tough close-game to the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs during the LaFrance Hospitality Tournament 65-63.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-3
• UMass Dartmouth: 4-1

How it Happened: 

The Golden Bears jumped ahead early during the first quarter, opening with three three pointer shots. Senior Julia Quinn was able to drop six points early, both of them coming from three-point land. After trading threes back and forth, the Golden Bears were able to make a spark, going on a 12-2 run putting them ahead 15-5 before the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs came back to tie the game on a 10-0 run of their own, marking the score 15-15. Junior Alexia Leon scored her second three pointer of the quarter to bring the Golden Bears up to end the first quarter with a score of 18-15. 

The second quarter was a lot scrappier, with both teams trading fouls and gaining points from the foul line. The second quarter was a lot closer in scoring with only 2- or 3-point differentials. UMass Dartmouth took a one-point lead to end the half with a score of 33-32. 

Quinn nailed another three to open the third quarter, putting the Golden Bears back in the lead. The lead was short lived, however as the Corsairs went on a run for most of the third quarter. Senior Grace Fisher and had two key rebounds and has put backs for points for the Golden Bears, even tying up the game in the third quarter at 41-41 before UMass Dartmouth held the lead for the remaining of the quarter.

Junior Abby Garaban put the Golden Bears on the scoreboard with another three while Leon adds some two key shots with seven minutes to play in the fourth. The Golden Bears saw Fisher head to the line after she was able to convert on a layup and draw a foul to give the Golden Bears their first tie of the fourth after being down with the score at 51-51. Fisher went on to give WNE their first lead of the quarter followed by teammate Garaban for another lead 56-54. Garaban went on a run late in the fourth adding to a Golden Bears lead. The Corsairs ultimately came back to tie the game at 63-63 all. UMass-Darmouth was able to convert on a layup with under 30 seconds to play in the contest to give themselves a two point lead. Western New England would be unable to secure the ball on their final possession of the game, dropping the tournament game 65-63 to the Corsairs. 

Inside The Numbers:

• Fisher led the Golden Bears with 14 points and recorded another double-double with 12 rebounds. Both Leon and Sam Bodey earned 11 points in the game while Garaban tallied 10.
• As a team, Western New England shot 34.3 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from three, and 43.8 percent from the foul line while tallying 39 rebounds, 15 assists and eight steals. 
• The Corsairs shot 42.6 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 50.0 percent from the free throw line while earning 46 rebounds, 14 assists, and four steals. 

Up Next:

• Western New England will take on Westfield State, who fell to Emerson College at the LaFrance Hospitality Tournament earlier today. That game is scheduled for Saturday, November 20 at 12:00 pm. 
• UMass-Dartmouth hosts Emerson College for the tournament title at 2:00 pm on the same date.