Second Half Comeback Propels Women's Basketball to First Win of 2022

MADISON, N.J. (November 11, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team traveled to Madison, N.J. for the Rose City Classic hosted by Drew University. The Golden Bears faced Widener University where they won after a second half comeback 57-50.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-1
• Widener University: 0-1

How It Happened: Widener got the first basket of the ball game off a mid-range jumper, a foul shot followed and then a layup to get a 5-0 lead. Lindsey Carey put a bucket in for the Golden Bears, and Widener put two more in on the other end of the court for a 9-2 score almost halfway through the first quarter. A couple minutes of no scoring, Widener with a layup at 2:52 and Emma Kahn got WNE's second basketball. Alexia Leon shot two more in from the foul line, and a layup from Shaina Cooney for the Golden Bears to trail Widener at the end of the first 11-8.

The Golden Bears got the ball to start the second quarter but let Widener score first in the quarter. A few trips back-and-forth with no baskets until Emma Elrod knocked in a jumper for WNE, and a trip to the basket put Widener back up by five. Turnovers and dead plays on both ends of the floor that lead to a euro-step to the hole for Widener at 3:35 to lead 17-10. Paige Winter added another point for the Golden Bears on the foul line and Widener got an extra point from the line as well. Before the half expired, Widener was fouled on a made basket for an and 1 to end the second ahead of the Golden Bears 21-11.

A minute into the third quarter Widener knocked in a three-pointer to begin the scoring, Abby Garaban knocked one down at the basket and Carey followed it up with another one before letting Widener get another bucket. Carey added a jumper and Caitlyn Hunt layup gave the Golden Bears a score of 21 to still be behind Wideners 28. Two foul shots and a layup gave Widener a double-digit lead, and baskets from Hunt and Carey diminished the score gap to 32-29. The Golden Bears let Widener get another basket in with 2:15 left to go in the third. Hunt with another big bucket to keep WNE only down three before Carey's trip to the foul line and a three-pointer from Winter tied up the ball game ending the third 34-34.

WNE took their first lead to open the fourth quarter off a layup from Cooney in the first 10 seconds. Two more foul shots from her had the Golden bears on top 38-34. Proceeding a free-throw from Widener, the Golden Bears had an 11-0 run with four more points from Hunt layup, a jumper from Lexi Leon, a three from Garaban, and ended with two on the free-throw line shot in by Carey, for WNE to take a double-digit lead against Widener under five minutes left in play, 47-35. Two in a row three-point shots From Widener broke the 10-point margin but within a few plays Cooney made it a 10-point game again with a layup just over a minute left in the basketball game, 55-45. Another layup for Widener, two more foul shots for WNE and a three for the last made basket of the game for Widener closed it out with the Golden Bears, mounting a third quarter comeback to win 57-50.

On the Court:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 40.4 percent from the paint, 11.1 percent from three-point line, 58.3 percent from the foul line, while gathering 35 rebounds, 12 assists, nine steals, and four blocks.
• Widener had 36.4 percent from the floor, 18.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 46.2 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 36 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and three blocks
• The Golden Bears were led by Lindsey Carey who had 13 points, three blocks, two steals and two rebounds. She went 3-4 from inside the arc and 75.5% from the free-throw line.
• Caitlyn Hunt recorded 12 points and led the team in rebounds with six. Abby Garaban added 11 points and led the team in assist with five plus five rebounds.

Up Next: The Golden Bears will be back for day two of the Rose City Classic Saturday, November 12, and will be up against the Drew University Rangers in the Championship game of the tournament with a 2pm tip-off time.