#7 Women's Basketball Falls in CCC Quarterfinal

BIDDERFORD, Maine (February 22, 2022) – The #7 Western New England women's basketball team fought all the way until the end, but unfortunately fell to #2 University of New England on the road today in the CCC quarterfinals for a final score of 51-45.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-16 
• University of New England: 18-8

How It Happened: 

Turnovers on both ends of the court started the action for the quarterfinal game featuring the Western New England Golden Bears vs. the University of New England Nor'easters. UNE hit two layups before Grace Fisher tossed in one of her own and Alexia Leon nailed a corner three-point shot to take the lead for Western New England. Shaina Cooney shot in a top of the key jumper to put the Golden Bears up 7-4 in the first quarter of play. The Nor'easter laid in another basket, but The Golden Bears answered immediately when Julia Quinn snuck to the hoop for a quick bucket. A couple of missed defensive boards let UNE retake the lead until Quinn hit a jumper and then a three-pointer. Now WNE lead was at 14-10 with 2:06 left in the first. To close out the quarter Sam Bodey swooshed in another shot beyond the arc for WNE in under a minute of play, and then UNE turned around in knocked one in right before the time expired. The Golden Bears maintained the lead to end the quarter 17-15.

Lindsey Carey made the first basket of the second quarter for WNE. University of New England wasted no time putting up two at the other end of the court keeping it a two-point game. Almost halfway through the period, at 5:46, Cooney put in a corner jumper to put the Golden Bears back up by four points, 22-18. Both teams struggled to finish a basket until 2:50 mark when UNE laid up another bucket. Quinn again quick to answer, had a fast break cut to the rim for two more points. With a free-throw from Fisher WNE was now up three points with 1:22 to go before halftime, 25-22. The Nor'easters shot in another final seconds shot to close out the half, but the Golden Bears still had the lead with a score of 25-24.

The Nor'easters re-took control of the game to begin the third quarter battle. They got up three points in less than two minutes of action with the score at 28-25. Quinn made the first hoop for The Golden Bears for the quarter at 7:19, to put them down just one-point. Another back-and-forth set of turnovers for both teams before Fisher rolled to the hoop to re-gain the lead for WNE at 5:01, score 29-28. A foul-shot and a layup from UNE gave the game possession back to them, now up two-points. Quinn tied the game again with two on the foul-line at 2:11, and then the Nor'easters took the lead back, also on the foul-line. Bodey came in the game to knock down another three-point jumper for the Golden Bears who had the lead taken away yet again in seconds from a contested layup hit by the Nor'easters. The third quarter ended with the Nor'easters still in the lead by one point, score at 35-34.

Fisher laid up an easy basket to give The Golden Bears the lead of the game, and then had a nice block on the defensive end to keep the lead to begin the fourth quarter. With the two teams trading leads UNE had it once more before Fisher shot in another jump shot for a Western New England one point lead. A three-pointer knocked in by University of New England gave them their largest lead in a while of just two points with 5:43 left in the game for a score of 40-38. Carey tied the game after a minute of play with a wide-open layup. The Nor'easters then went on an eight-point run hitting two three-pointers, getting a steal, and a jump shot. The score was now 48-40 with three minutes remaining in the quarterfinal action. Carey had to force a three-point shot before the shot clock expired that ended up being good to make it a two-possession game for the Golden Bears. Only a minute on the clock, Fisher made a basket, and was fouled, but did not hit the foul shot. The Nor'easters still had the lead at 49-45. Less than 30 seconds to go still down four, WNE got off a couple three's that weren't good, and a layup that wouldn't drop. The University of New England finished the game out on the foul-line to win the game 51-45.

Inside the Numbers:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 32.7 percent from the hardwood, 25.0 percent from the three-land, 44.4 percent from the foul line, while grabbing 39 rebounds, 10 assists, six blocks, and one steal.
• The University of New England Nor'easters had 31.3 percent from the paint, 22.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 58.3 percent from the free throw line while pulling down 41 rebounds, six assists, six steals, and four blocks.
• Fisher ended the season with another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and added four blocks and two assists for The Golden Bears. 
• The Golden Bears were led in scoring by Quinn with 13 points.

Up Next:

• With the lost, The Golden Bears finished their 2021-22 season with 11 total wins and 15 loses.
• The Nor'Easters will move on to the CCC semifinals this Thursday, February 24, where they will host the Endicott Gulls.