UNE Tops Women’s Basketball in Overtime, 80-79

BIDDEFORD, MAINE. (January 21, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team lost in a gut crunching overtime battle against the University of New England Nor'Easters, final score 80-79.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-9, 6-4 CCC
• University of New England: 12-5, 8-2 CCC

How It Happened: The Nor'Easters got off to 5-0 run before Abby Garaban put two up on the scoreboard for the Golden Bears, and it was responded with a UNE hoop on the other end, 7-2 UNE. Almost halfway through the first quarter, Shaina Cooney was fouled on a made basket for three, WNE trailed by two. The Nor'Easters hit a quick jumper, and Emma Kahn got the Golden Bears back within two, 9-7. UNE pushed up their lead off a corner three-pointer and a jumper to lead 16-9 at the end of one.

A layup for the Nor'Easters opened the second quarter of play. Two buckets for Cooney, a jumper for UNE, and a three swooshed in by Kahn made it a four-point game, 20-16. The Golden Bears had a few turnovers that let the Nor'Easters build back up their lead with back-to-back layups. Lindsay Orbann shot in a three to cut the UNE run, then they allowed another jumper, now a seven-point game. The Nor'Easter had their largest lead of the half, leading by 10 before Colleen Furlong added some more points for the Golden Bears with a top of the key three, and Lily Hedge got two on the line, 30-25, under a minute in the second. UNE, another three, and Hunt made a basket for WNE to trail 33-27 at the half.

Cooney started it off with a layup for WNE, but they couldn't get a stop at the other end and UNE built up a run of seven for a 40-29 lead. A couple of quick buckets for Garaban was interrupted by another UNE three, 45-33. Two buckets from Cooney and a jumper from Furlong made it less than 10, 45-39. Another daggering three for the Nor'Easters and a trip to the hoop, back to a double-digits, 50-39. UNE capitalized and built up their lead at the end of the third 56-43.

Two quick points from Nor'Easters on the foul line in the fourth. A lot of missed shots both ways as the Golden Bears fought to comeback within seven on two threes from Kahn for a score of 60-53. Less than five on the clock, UNE added four from the foul line, WNE still fighting, Lily Hedge knocked in a top of the corner three, 1:55 remaining Golden Bears down 67-58. Perry Blasetti made another one to cut it to six, 69-63, a minute to go. A layup from Garaban, down by five before she fouled out the ballgame. Paige Winter subbed in for her, made a fastbreak layup, Golden Bears down three with thirty-three seconds left. UNE fouled, went one for two at the line, Hunt with a nice move to the hoop, WNE within two now, 15 seconds to go. UNE sent to the free-throw line again, still only pulled one, Winter came down the other end, knocked in a huge three to tie the game with seven seconds for the game to go into overtime, 72-72.

Golden Bears had all the momentum, they won the jump, Kahn got one from the free-throw line, and Emma Novajasky hit a jumper to lead by three. UNE evened it up with a three at the other end. Kahn put WNE back in the lead, UNE tied on the foul line. The score remained tied for a few ball possessions, UNE missed a lot of foul shots, until the Nor'Easters were fouled with seven seconds left in overtime. They only hit one of the two once again, but the Golden Bears missed their final basket to lose 80-79 in the battle with the Nor'Easters.

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 39.2 percent from the paint, 34.8 percent from three-point line, 60.0 percent from the foul line, while gathering 56 rebounds, 21 assists, seven steals, and four blocks.
• The Nor'Easters had 45.8 percent from the floor, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.5 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 28 rebounds, 15 assists, eight steals, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Shaina Cooney who had 17 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and one block. She went 8-15 from inside the paint.
• Emma Kahn added 14 points, Lilly Hedge recorded 11 rebounds, and Colleen Furlong led the team in assists with seven.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain on the road for their next CCC match up against the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards this Tuesday, January 24, for a 5:30 p.m. start time.