Women's Basketball Clipped in Championship Game of Rose City Classic

MADISON, N.J. (November 12, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team participated in the championship game in the Rose City Classic against the Drew University Rangers where the Golden Bears lost in the final seconds of the game 57-56.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-2
• Drew University: 3-0

How It Happened: Two-minutes into play Drew University laid in the first basket followed by two more than a three-point shot to take a 9-0 lead. Emma Elrod earned the Golden bears their first couple of points under five minutes underway in the first. An additional layup and a three from the Rangers before another Elrod bucket for a score of 14-4. Drew shot in another three, and Elrod scored the last basket of the quarter with six of eight of the Golden Bears points with them trailing 17-8.

Elrod, carrying over her hot streak, put in the first shot of the second quarter followed by a three from Emma Kahn to bring the Golden Bears only down four, 17-13. After a basket from the Rangers, Abby Garaban knocked in a three to make it a three-point game. Caitlyn Hunt put WNE within two proceeding a foul shot from Drew, and Shaina Cooney evened up the score 22-22, 3:25 left in the half. Another three and a trip the basket put the Rangers back up by five. Elrod gave the Golden Bears two from the line, and a layup from Drew, back to a five-point game a minute before halftime. The score at the half was 30-26 with the Rangers still in the lead.

Two free-throws opened the half for Drew and a three followed to re-gain a lead of nine, 35-26. Garaban had the first Golden Bears basket and Lindsey Carey added. Kahn forced a four-point game with another three and immediately the Rangers shot in a jumper, back to a six-point lead. A few trips up and down the court while Drew bumped back up their lead. They made it a 10-point game again under a minute left in the third and had the last bucket before the fourth, 49-39.

After a jumper from the Rangers, Cooney, Emma Novajosky, and Carey closed the score gap under double-digits, 45-51. They allowed Drew to have another jumper, and under five minutes left in play, Garaban went for six straight points, a free-throw from Carey and a layup from Hunt made it a ballgame, the golden Bears only down one, 53-52 with 1:39 left on the clock. Foul shots kept the Rangers in the lead until Hunt tied the score, 56-56, with seven seconds left. Unfortunately, a foul put Drew on the line for a final basket to win by one 57-56.

On the Court:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 37.7 percent from the paint, 18.8 percent from three-point line, 70.0 percent from the foul line, while gathering 44 rebounds, 11 assists, eight steals, and two blocks.
• The Rangers had 36.7 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 53.6 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 32 rebounds, 17 steals 12 assists, and three blocks
• The Golden Bears were led by Abby Garaban who had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, adding two steals, a block, and an assist. She went 4-5 from inside the arc, 2-3 from three-point line, and 3-3 from the foul line.
• Emma Elrod recorded 12 points and five rebounds.

Up Next: The Golden Bears have their first home game of the season Tuesday, November 15. They will be battling the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 8 p.m.