Cooney Drops 16 Points in Second CCC Win of Season

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 6, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team were on their home court today against the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards in CCC competition and defeated them 66-40.

Records:

• Western New England: 3-6, 2-1 CCC
• Wentworth: 2-5, 0-3 CCC

How It Happened: The Wentworth Institute Leopards quickly put seven points on the scoreboard with two three-point shots before Lindsey Carey stopped the scoreless streak for the Golden Bears. A three from Emma Kahn and a layup from Shaina Cooney had the score even. WNE got their first lead with less than four on the clock in the first quarter. The Leopards took it back with another three and a trip to the hoop. Colleen Furlong and the second Kahn three pointer put the lead back on the Golden Bears side. They went into the second quarter leading Wentworth 18-14.

Caitlyn Hunt hit the final basket of the first and the first of the second. Abby Garaban added a three to increase the WNE advantage. A couple of free-throws got the Leopards on the scoreboard in this quarter. Under four until the half Paige Winter knocked in a top of the key three-pointer, and Wentworth still had only scored on the line. An And-One play for Cooney made it a 10-point game, and Carey's last shot made it 12 at the half, 32-20 Golden Bears.

The Golden Bears Garaban hit a three after the Leopards shot in a jumper. The Leopards answered with a three and Cooney made her fifth point of the quarter plus an additional three from Furlong before Wentworth scored again. WNE had picked up a 20-point lead 46-25 five minutes into the third. Paige Winter knocked in a three after a long scoring break, and Emma Elrod hit two on the foul line for the final score of the quarter. The Golden Bears with a significant lead 53-30.

In the final quarter of the ballgame, it took a while for both teams to get on the board. Lindsay Orbann had a putback layup for the first score at 6:31. The Leopards knocked in another three, and the Golden Bears hit three straight baskets. They let Wentworth earn some more points on the foul line and one more trip to the hoop. Caeli Fitzpatrick had the last three and Hannah Blake with the final layup for a Golden Bear win, 66-40 in the CCC.

On the Floor:

• The Golden Bears shot 47.3 percent from the paint, 50.0 percent from three-point line, 60.0 percent from the foul line, while gathering 44 rebounds, 20 assists, four blocks, and one steal as a team.
• The Leopards had 27.3 percent from the floor, 22.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.9 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 18 rebounds, nine steals, seven assists, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Shaina Cooney who had 16 points and six rebounds. She went 7-9 from inside the arc, and 2-2 from the foul line.
• Abby Garaban added eight points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Up Next: The Golden Bears are back at home again this Saturday, December 10, an out of conference game against the Westfield State University Owls at Noon.