Women’s Basketball Uses Late Scoring-Run to Beat Trinity, 56-54

HARTFORD, Conn. (January 4, 2020) – The Western New England University women's basketball used a 9-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter to secure a 56-54 victory over Trinity College on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Ray Oosting Gymnasium.

Top Performers
Leading the offense for the Golden Bears was senior forward Courtney Carlson (Woodbury, Conn.) with 14 points. Carlson also grabbed six rebounds.

Forward Meghan Orbann (East Hampton, Conn.) and guard Lauren Chadwick (Gardiner, Maine) each scored 12 points. Orbann added six rebound and five assists.

Trinity senior forward Peace Kabari (Manchester, N.H.) led the offense for the Bantams, scoring 13 points. Sophomore center Elizabeth Althoff (Staten Island, N.Y.) provided 12 points for the Bantams.

Game Review
The Golden Bears took an early 4-3 lead over the Bantams with Carlson scoring both baskets. Trinity took the lead back at 5-4, then Western New England went on a 7-1 scoring run, taking an 11-6 lead off a 3-pointer by Orbann. The Bantams fought back to take the lead, before a layup by senior forward Alyssa Stefanelli (Chicopee, Mass.) gave the Golden Bears a 13-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was just as even between the Golden Bears and the Bantams, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the entire quarter. There was as many as six lead changes in the quarter. Trinity grabbed the last lead before halftime as Kabari made two free throws to give the Bantams a 21-19 lead going into the half.

The Bantams continued to hold onto the lead early in the third quarter by a score of 31-26. The Golden Bears and Bantams traded baskets before Trinity would get a seven-point lead by a score of 39-32. Western New England again chipped away at the lead, before a layup by Trinity freshman Bria Fuller (Springdale, Md.) gave the Bantams a 41-37 lead going into the fourth quarter.

As Trinity got the lead back up to seven points early in the fourth quarter, the Golden Bears would try to cut down the lead, but the Bantams would continue to keep the lead as high as seven points. Trinity held a 51-44 lead with 6:35 left in the game, and Western New England went on a 9-0 scoring run over the next five minutes to give the Golden Bears a 53-51 lead with 1:17 remaining in the game. Orbann scored the last three points for the Golden Bears, the last of which was a free throw with 0:04 remaining to give Western New England the 56-54 victory.

Notes
• Western New England starts the new year off at 2-0.
• The Golden Bears held a 36-32 rebound advantage.

Up Next
Western New England (9-2) returns to CCC action on the road at Gordon on Tuesday evening. Trinity (9-3) will play at home against Bowdoin on Friday evening.