Nor’easters Clip Women’s Basketball in OT, 71-66

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 3, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team fell short on Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Nor'easters of the University of New England, dropping a 71-66 overtime decision from the Alumni Healthful Living Center. 

Records:

• Western New England: 2-6, 1-1 CCC
• University of New England: 6-3, 2-0 CCC

How it Happened:
Western New England found themselves down early, after two made free throws and a layup all within the first minute of the game turned the game quickly in favor of the Nor'easters. University of New England would score the first six points of the game before Abby Garaban would connect on a layup to get the Golden Bears on the scoreboard. Western New England and their opponent would trade baskets before Lindsey Carey and Caitlyn Hunt would combine for six straight WNE points to give the Golden Bears a 12-11 lead. A 10-0 run for WNE would give the Golden Bears an 18-13 lead after one quarter of play. Abby Garaban would collect six points in the quarter. 

Lindsey Carey and Lindsay Orbann would collect opening scores for the Golden Bears as Western New England would collect their biggest of the game, which sat at nine points, 22-13. A 7-0 run from the Nor'easters would get UNE right back within striking distance. Shaina Cooney would come up big to stop the Nor'easters run after a made layup would put Western New England ahead 26-23. Cooney would follow up the layup with a made free throw for the three-point play to extend WNE's lead. Down the stretch to end the second quarter, made baskets from Colleen Furlong, Caitlyn Hunt and a three-point basket from Abby Garaban would give Western New England a 34-27 lead after one half of play. 

Jordyn Franzen, University of New England's point leader on the season, would heat up in the second half, making the opening three-point basket for the Nor'easters. The Nor'easters would close the deficit to within two before Garaban would continue to be productive for the Golden Bears as WNE would go on a mini 4-0 scoring run to take a four-point lead with six minutes to play in the third. UNE would take their first lead of the quarter at 40-39 with 5:07 to play, though an Erin Reen three-point shot would get WNE their lead right back. Emma Novajasky and Lindsey Carey would collect the final points of the third for WNE as the Golden Bears took a five-point lead heading into the third quarter. 

The Golden Bears would open the quarter with a made three-point shot to take an eight-point lead, though the Nor'easters would storm their comeback from there as Juliana Tracy, Jordyn Franzen and Kaylee Beyor would connect on baskets to even the score with 7:40 to play. UNE would take a two-point lead after Faye Veilleux would connect on free throws with three minutes to play. Shaina Cooney would connect on four straight WNE points to give the Golden Bears a one-point lead with 1:21 to play in the contest. With under a minute left, Shaina Cooney would connect on a free throw to give WNE a 60-58 lead. With just one second to play a foul committed by WNE would send UNE's Jordyn Franzen to the line with no time remaining, needing to make two shots to send the game into OT. The UNE star connected on two clutch free throws to send the game into extra time. 

Shaina Cooney made both free throws to open the first possession of the overtime period before Kegan Dunbar cashed in from distance to give UNE a lead. The lead would go back and forth before UNE would take the lead for good, taking down Western New England 71-66. 

Around the Rim:

• Abby Garaban led Western New England with 15 points while Lindsey Carey and Shaina Cooney would connect with double figured for WNE. 
• Shaina Cooney led all players with 14 rebounds in the game while also collecting one block. 
• All five starters for UNE collected at least ten points with Jordyn Franzen leading the way with 19 points off 7-10 shooting. 
• WNE faltered at the free throw line, leaving ten points on the line in the game, shooting 11-21. 
• The UNE bench scored just five points in the game while Western New England scored 21 bench points. 
• Western New England shot 40% from the field while UNE shot 32.9% from the field though connected on eight three-point shots to WNE's three. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England returns to the Alumni Healthful Living Center on Tuesday, December 6 for a 5:30 pm tip with Wentworth Institute of Technology. 
• UNE heads home to take on Endicott College on the same date.