Strong Third Quarter Pushes Gulls Past Women’s Basketball

BEVERLY, Mass. (February 7, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team took a road trip to Endicott College where they lost to the Gulls in a close game for a final score of 83-80.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-11, 9-6 CCC
• Endicott College: 10-12, 8-7 CCC

How It Happened: In the opening quarter, the Golden Bears Emma Kahn had back-to-back trips to the hoop, and Colleen Furlong shot in a three-pointer for them to be ahead 7-0. A jumper put the Gulls on the scoreboard, and they worked their way to be in four with a three-pointer. Furlong shot in her second of the game, WNE back on top seven halfway through the first. Endicott responded with a jump shot. The Golden Bears had their largest lead in the quarter with a trip to the basket by Lilly Hedge and then another one by Emma Elrod, 20-11. At the end of the first, Endicott put up a layup and a three to only trail four, 20-16.

The Gulls tied it up in the first minute. Furlong drove the hoop for the lead, the Gulls took it away with a jumper and a drive. Hedge evened it up twice for the Golden Bears that lead to a run of 10, four coming from captain Abby Garaban, score 34-26, 4:16 before quarter two expired. Endicott was sent to the foul line, came away with two points, and Garaban put in a layup. Cooney's bucket gave the Golden Bears their high lead of the game again, nine, the Gulls tried to close the gap, and Furlong ended the half on a jumper for the Golden Bears to be on top 44-36.

Cooney laid it in due to a Gulls turnover, but the Gulls answered with a three and a layup. Lindsey Carey got to the basket and the Gulls knocked in two more from behind the three line to make it a two-point game, 49-47. Elrod and Hedge combined to give WNE some separation, and Endicott had it within one due to a layup in a foul, 2:37 in the third. There was no score until the final six seconds of the quarter when the Gulls took the lead on a jump shot 58-57.

Cailtyn Hunt was on the foul line and took one away, and Endicott hit a three in the first minute of the fourth. Furlong went to the basket, Endicott followed, Hunt made a jump shot, the Gulls brought it in again to stay up three. Under five, Carey tied it up for the Golden Bears 66-66, and within less than a minute, the Gulls were back up four. Furlong, taking it in all game, put in another layup, and it was out shot by another Gulls three. Under a minute on the clock, Endicott had a six-point lead. Two free-throws by Garaban and a huge three from Paige Winter had the Golden Bears in sights for a comeback, down two with 16 seconds, 82-80. A foul shot by the Gulls and a missed three by WNE ended the ballgame with the Gulls winning 83-80.

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 50.7 percent from the paint, 30.0 percent from three-point line, 75.0 percent from the foul line, while gathering 39 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals, and two blocks.
• The Gulls had 50.0 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 29 rebounds, 19 assists, eight steals, and two blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Colleen Furlong who had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. She was 7-15 from inside the paint and 2-4 from beyond the arc.
• Shaina Cooney added 12 points, going 5-5 in field goals and 2-2 from the line. Lilly Hedge also put in 12 points with seven boards. She was also perfect from the foul line and was 5-7 in the arc.  

Up Next: The Golden Bears return to the AHLC this Saturday, February 11, for their senior day celebration against the Salve Regina Seahawks. Game start time is 1 p.m.