Women's Basketball Drops Non-Conference tilt to Eastern Conn St.

WINDHAM, Conn. (November 22, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team took on the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors this evening on the road where they fell to the Warriors in non-conference play 71-63.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-5
• Eastern Conn. St. University: 3-2

How It Happened: The Golden Bears Abby Garaban knocked in the first basket on a three-pointer to put them ahead one of the Eastern Connecticut St. Warriors. A free throw from Caitlyn Hunt gave them a one score lead, and a few trips up and down the court Lindsey Carey shot in another three for WNE for a lead of 7-4. The Warriors had a run that brought them ahead 12-7 halfway through the first quarter. The Golden Bears could not hit a bucket for almost two minutes of play while Eastern Conn. St increased their lead, 16-9. Emma Kahn and Garaban put in two more layups for the Golden Bears before the time in the first expired, then they allowed the Warriors to hit a final second basket to send them into the second down 18-13.

Shaina Cooney came right out and laid a hoop in to start the second and the Warriors answered with a three. Kahn with the hot hand, put in back-to-back threes for WNE, a tied ballgame 21-21. After a shot clock violation Eastern Conn. St. took back their lead with a jump shot then a three, 26-21 Warriors. Carey continued the Golden Bears streak behind the arc for a two-point game 4:28 before halftime. The two teams exchange baskets to keep it a two-point game. Kahn took the lead for WNE following a three and a nice euro step to the hoop under two minutes on the clock 31-30. Two more from Colleen Furlong on the foul line, and a layup taken by Cooney had the Golden Bears ahead 35-30. Again, WNE allowed a late basket from the Warriors, another three to cut their lead to two, 35-33 at the half.

Eastern Conn. St. took back the lead right out the gate in the second half of play with five straight baskets and 10 total points 43-35. Cooney ended the run with the first basket for the Golden Bears, and Carey added another one. The warriors score again, and Carey took another one to the hole. WNE had closed the score gap to a three-point lead for the Warriors 49-46, after a Garaban layup under four minutes to go in the third but unfortunately, they had a scoring block for two in a half minutes while Eastern Conn. St. put up six more points. Foul shots closed out the third for both teams and the Warriors controlled their lead into the final quarter 56-52.

A free throw and a three after a minute of no scoring gave the Warriors a more solid lead in the beginning of the fourth. Garaban coming in clutch for her team went for five straight points and made it a three-point ball game once again 7:10 left on the clock. It wasn't until it was under four that Eastern Conn. St. put another basket in, and they still took their lead to double digits under a minute in the game. The Golden Bears got it under 10 before the finale but could not come back, losing to the Warriors 71-63.

On the Court:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 40.0 percent from the paint, 36.4 percent from three-point line, 64.7 percent from the foul line, while gathering 34 rebounds, 13 assists, four blocks, and two steals.
• The Warriors had 45.1 percent from the floor, 58.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 64.7 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 30 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals, and four blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Abby Garaban who had 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists. She went 6-9 from inside the arc, 2-3 from the three-land, and 3-4 from the foul line.
• Lindsey Carey added 14 points and four rebounds while Emma Kahn put in 13 more.  

Up Next: The Golden Bears will be on the road after the Thanksgiving break to Boston Tuesday, November 30, for their first conference game against the Suffolk University Rams with a 5:30 p.m. start time.