Balanced Offensive Attack Sends Golden Bears over Leopards

BOSTON, Mass. (January 24, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team traveled to Boston, Mass. to take on the Wentworth Institute Leopards, where the Golden Bears came out on top 72-30 after four quarters of play.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-9, 7-4 CCC
• Wentworth Institute: 4-14, 0-11 CCC

How It Happened: The Golden Bears got after it with a 4-0 start on a trip to the foul line and a made layup. Wentworth Leopards evened up the score and then Shaina Cooney had back-to-back buckets, followed by a jumper from Colleen Furlong, Golden Bears ahead 10-4. Five minutes through the quarter the Leopards put up another basket and then were held off the scoreboard for four minutes. WNE went on a 13-point run, five coming from Abby Garaban. After Wentworth laid in another basket, the Golden Bears Emma Kahn finished the quarter knocking in a three-pointer and a jumper for them to lead 28-8.

In quarter two Lily Hedge entered the game to score six straight points for the Golden Bears while they kept the Leopards from scoring again for over five minutes. Wentworth only scored four points in the second quarter. Emma Elrod knocked some shots in, Paige Winter hit a three-point shot, and Lindsey Carey added two at the end of the half for the Golden Bears to lead the Leopards 43-12.

Three quick buckets for WNE in the open of the second half, Shaina Cooney went for two more after a made Wentworth layup. The Golden Bears maintained their 30 plus lead throughout the quarter even though their scoring slowed down. Caitlyn Hunt had the last of WNE's points in the third, spread out through three minutes of play, WNE still ahead 57-22.

The Leopards are the ones to make the first points of the quarter, and it was followed immediately by a jumper from Lindsey Orbann. There wasn't another shot hit until the final 5:44 of the game by Hunt and additional layup from Elrod. The score was a 40-point deficit proceeding a layup by Perry Blasetti, and Caeli Fitzpatrick made the final three for WNE to stamp the win against Wentworth 72-30.

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 51.7 percent from the paint, 35.7 percent from three-point line, 77.8 percent from the foul line, while gathering 45 rebounds, 20 assists, 12 steals, and four blocks.
• The Leopards had 25.0 percent from the floor, 8.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 20 rebounds, nine assists, eight steals, and two block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Shaina Cooney who had 12 points, eight rebounds, and a steal. She went 6-7 from inside the paint.
• Abby Garaban added nine points, five assists, and two steals.

Up Next: The Golden Bears are back on their home court, AHLC, this Saturday in a doubleheader lineup with Men's Basketball against the Nichols Bison. Start time will be 1 p.m.