Women's Basketball Falls Short to Salve Regina on Senior Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 11, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team had a battle against the Salve Regina Seahawks during their senior day celebration. The Golden Bears fell to the Seahawks 59-56.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-12, 9-7 CCC
• Salve Regina University: 14-9, 9-7 CCC

How It Happened: A close one right out the jump ball. Senior, Emma Elrod made the first layup for the Golden Bears, and Salve Regina answered with a jump shot. Elrod made her way to the hoop, and Abby Garaban got two points from the foul line. The Seahawks evened the score, Elrod with another made layup for her sixth point of the first. The Golden Bears had a little run with Lindsey Carey picking up two from the free-throw line and Garaban banking in a three for a lead of 13-8, 3:29 in the first. Salve then hit two threes for them to just be down one. There were some foul shots both ways and the score at the end of the first quarter was 17-15, Golden Bears.

Garaban was on the free throw line to get WNE ahead four, and Shaina Cooney made one for a lead of five. The Seahawks drove to the basket for two, and Cooney responded with one of her own before Salve had two trips to the hoop and free-throws for the lead, 23-22 4:42 until half. In the last two minutes, Salve was sent to the line again where they came away with two, they added two layups and two more foul shots to lead the Golden Bears at halftime 29-25.

In the opening minute of the first, Carey had a nice drive to the basket, and then WNE let Salve Regina go for five straight points before Carey took it in again and was fouled. The Golden Bears kept the Seahawks within two, but a layup and a pair of foul shots brought Salve in the lead 40-34, four minutes until the fourth. Colleen Furlong helped her team out with a jumper and two from the foul line. The Seahawks nailed another three right before the end of the third for them to be in the lead 43-38.

Following two free-throws taken by Cooney, Salve shot in a three to be on top six. Emma Kahn hit a jumper, and Salve answered with a layup. Back-to-back threes for WNE tied the score 48-48, made by Kahn and Carey, and then the Seahawks made one of their own to re-take the lead. Halfway through the final quarter, the Golden Bears had tied it again after a foul shot from Garaban and a layup by Carey. WNE took their first second half lead when Garaban was fouled on a drive for three-points, 56-53. Salve was back ahead one within a minute. They hit their final four foul shots. The Golden Bears missed two three-point opportunities to lose to the Seahawks 59-56

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 27.3 percent from the paint, 18.8 percent from three-point line, 73.9 percent from the foul line, while gathering 49 rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and one block.
• The Seahawks had 34.5 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 39 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals, and six blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Abby Garaban who had 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists. She was 4-13 from inside the paint and 9-12 from the foul line.
• Lindsey Carey added 14 points and seven rebounds. Emma Elrod led the team in rebounds with eight.

Up Next: The Golden Bears are back in the AHLC this Wednesday, February 15, for their final home game of the regular season against the Suffolk University Rams at 5:30 p.m.