Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short in Season Opener for WNE Women’s Basketball

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 8, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team had their season opener game on the road against the Springfield College Pride where they lost to the Pride 56-48.

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1
• Springfield College: 1-0

How It Happened: It took the Golden Bears awhile to get it going in the first quarter of play against the Pride who had a 10-0 run before Lindsey Carey finally broke the scoreless streak with a three-pointer. A couple of free throws, a jumper, and another layup from Carey had the ballgame was within one for the Golden Bears, 10-9, at the 2:30 mark left in the first. Neither team put up anymore points to close out quarter one, and they went into the second with Springfield on top, 10-9.

Springfield College got their rhythm back to start quarter two. Lexi Leon and Emma Novajasky knocked in a three to take the first lead of the game for WNE almost halfway through the quarter. The Pride wasted no time evening the score up, 14-14. With almost two minutes of no scoring, the Pride got it going again with a three-point shot that influenced a seven-point run late in the first half of the game to be ahead of the Golden Bears 21-14. Abby Garaban ended the five-minute score drought with a beautiful three with nine seconds left in the half, but fouls gave Springfield final seconds basket opportunities to send them into halftime in the lead of the Golden Bears 23-17.

The Pride hit the scoreboard first in the second period due to a free-throw, and then Colleen Furlong made her first basket of the night off a three, then the Golden Bears let a quick layup go from the Pride for them to still have the lead 26-20 two minutes into quarter three. Garaban knocked in another jump shot for WNE before Springfield knocked in two more baskets to keep their six-point lead. A couple of foul shots closed the gap to four 4:22 into the third 28-24. The Golden Bears allowed another layup from Springfield until two more foul shots from Emma Elrod made it a four-point game again. With less than a minute to go in the quarter, the Pride shot in a jumper, caused a Golden Bear turnover, and made another layup for an eight-point lead 34-26 entering the fourth.

Free-throws began the scoring again a minute into the final quarter of the game for Springfield College who took an 11-point lead from the line, 37-26. Carey knocked in a corner three to break the double-digit deficit, then they allowed a Pride layup to take back a 10-point lead. Garaban hit another three for WNE and Springfield returned it right back, score 42-32 seven minutes left in the ballgame. Scoring went back-and-forth for both teams exchanging layups, and two free-throws from Carey to keep them only trailing 10 more than halfway through the fourth. Another three from Furlong and a bucket at the basket from Garaban made it a seven-point game with 2:45 left on the clock. The Golden Bears put the Pride back on the line, back to a double-digit game, Elrod with another bucket, and Emma Kahn with a huge corner three gave the Golden Bears another breath in the game down only five, 51-46, 1:23 left. After WNE forced a turnover under their basket, Garaban was sent to the line and went for two for a three-point game with 27 seconds on the clock, 51-48. The final second effort ended with the Golden Bears having to send the Pride to the line, and that's where they closed out the game, five free-throws and no WNE baskets, the Pride won 56-48.

On the Court:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 28.8 percent from the paint, 36.4 percent from three-point line, 83.3 percent from the foul line, while gathering 32 rebounds, 12 assists, seven blocks, and four steals.
• The Pride had 33.3 percent from the floor, 15.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 60.0 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 34 rebounds, 11 assists, nine steals, and five blocks
• The Golden Bears were led by Abby Garaban who had 13 points, six rebounds, three assist, and one steal. She went 2-3 from the three and 4-9 from inside the arc.
• Lindsey Carey recorded 11 points, six rebounds, four blocks, and two assists.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain on the road for their next couple of games. They are traveling to Madison, NJ to participate in the Rose City Classic hosted by Drew University where they will face Widener University Friday, November 11, at 8 p.m.