Women's Basketball Survives Second Half Comeback for a 72-62 Victory over Curry

MILTON, Mass. (February 4, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team got their second defeat against Curry College in a full game battle on the road for a final score of 72-62.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-10, 9-5 CCC
• Curry College: 6-15, 2-12 CCC

How It Happened: The Golden Bears got after it with a 6-0 start, two baskets from Lindsey Carey and one from Shaina Cooney, before Curry scored. It was the only basket they had for the first five minutes of the quarter, and WNE went for another run of seven, with Cooney adding three more points. Curry knocked in two three-pointers, fighting back within five points of the Golden Bears, 13-8. Curry hit two more threes in this quarter to make it a three-point game with 1:39 on the clock. Emma Elrod's spirt at the end of the first, gave the Golden Bears some more separation. She was fouled on a made hoop, made one at the line, and put in two more on the free-throw line before the time expired to end the first quarter with the Golden Bears in the lead 22-15.

WNE started with the ball in the second quarter and Lilly Hedge tipped one in off an offensive board. Elrod took a trip to the hoop, and Curry returned knocked one in behind the arc. The Golden Bears did get up to a 10-point lead almost midway through the quarter due to a three swooshed in by Emma Kahn, 31-20. Curry answered with a three. A few turnovers and some missed shot opportunities until Abby Garaban also put in a three-pointer to take WNE back up 11. Curry knocked in one more three before halftime but were shut out the remainder of the second. Hedge finished the half with six points, and Kahn made a shot from deep to take the Golden Bears ahead 18, score 44-26 at the half.

Curry came out shooting in the three in the first minute of play of the third. Cooney was sent to the line, came away with two, and a turnover gave Curry a drive to the hoop for two. A few scoring plays, and some foul shots exchanged by the teams, and Curry returned to the three-point line, knocking in another one and two free-throws, they only trailed 13 to the Golden Bears, 4:36, 51-38. They forced it to a seven-point game at the two-minute mark with a foul shot for a score 53-46, Hedge shot in a jumper on the other end of the court, and Curry daggered in their 10^th three of the ballgame. At the end of the third Erin Reen got two points from the free-throw line to take WNE back in the lead by eight, 57-49.

Cooney's jump shot got the Golden Bears on top by 10 and an offensive rebound tip in basket by Curry and a deep three, closed the gap to five, 59-54. Reen drove to the hoop, and Curry got two more threes to sink in, one-point game, 61-60, 6:00 left on the clock. Carey's offensive board and a bucket and Reen's layup got WNE a little separation in the final quarter of this game 65-60. In the last 1:30, Elrod took two more away at the line, Garaban added five more foul shots. The Golden Bears closed it out with the win 72-62.

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 47.1 percent from the paint, 27.3 percent from three-point line, 63.6 percent from the foul line, while gathering 38 rebounds, 18 assists, eight steals, and two blocks.
• Curry had 42.6 percent from the floor, 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.8 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 22 rebounds, 14 assists, nine steals, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Emma Elrod who had 13 points, three rebounds, and an assist. She was 4-5 from inside the paint and 5-5 from the foul line.
• Abby Garaban had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds and adds five assists. Shaina Cooney also put up 11 points.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain on the road to battle their next opponent, the Endicott Gulls, this Tuesday. February 7, for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.