Cooney's 20 Points Lead Golden Bears to Win Over Suffolk

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 15, 2023) – The Western New England women's basketball team hosted the Suffolk University Rams who they defeated after four quarters, 83-67.

Records:

• Western New England: 12-12, 10-7 CCC
• Suffolk University: 12-12, 7-10 CCC

How It Happened: Right out the jump ball, Suffolk hit a jump shot to lead off two, Abby Garaban made the first Golden Bear basket that led to a 11-point run, six of them coming from Lindsey Carey. The Rams knocked in a foul shot and a three-pointer to close WNE's double-digit lead. The score was 13-6, five minutes into the first quarter. Shaina Cooney added two-points at the foul line and Colleen Furlong put up a three to be back on top by 13. Paige Winter also shot in a three that was answered by a layup and a three-pointer for Suffolk. Emma Elrod took it in for two, and Suffolk hit another three. In the last 10 seconds of the quarter, the Golden Bears Lilly Hedge and Cooney drove to the hoop to close out the first 32-20 to the Rams.

Cooney made the first layup in the second and a couple of free-throws by Perry Blasetti for the Golden Bears before the Rams hit the scoreboard and made a run of 13-points to trail only two, 35-33. WNE didn't make another basket until the 2:18 mark, Caitlyn Hunt with a layup and then Erin Reen with a three. Suffolk kept it within five points until halftime. Paige Winter shot in a jumper and Suffolk followed with a layup for the score at half to be 42-37.

The Golden Bears came out the half fired up. Carey and Cooney had back-to-back trips to the hoop and Emma Kahn nailed a three to give WNE a 12-point lead. Before the halfway point in the corner, Cooney had another layup and Garaban knocked in a three to build on the lead. Winter had a three-point shot that almost gave the Golden Bears a 20-point lead, but some final minute basket brought the Rams down 15, 65-50 at the end of the third.

After a few dead plays both ways, Carey was sent to the line where she came away with one, the Rams scored on the other end, then Elrod had two layups, Golden Bears on top 70-52. Suffolk earned some foul shots and a basket before Garaban swooshed her second three. The teams were exchanging trips to the foul line, then Blasetti hit a three for a 20-point lead 80-60, 2:49 to go. The teams returned to the free-throw line and Hunt finalized it with a layup for the Golden Bears to win 83-67.

On the Court:

• The Golden Bears shot 52.5 percent from the paint, 39.1 percent from three-point line, 60.0 percent from the foul line, while gathering 37 rebounds, 24 assists, four steals, and four blocks.
• The Rams had 45.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.6 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 29 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Shaina Cooney who had 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. She was 7-10 from inside the paint and 6-9 from the foul line.
• Lindsey Carey and Abby Garaban added 10 points. Garaban led the team in rebounds with eight, and Carey led the team in assists with six.

Up Next: The Golden Bears have their final regular season game this Saturday, February 18, on the road against the Gordon College Fighting Scots. Start time is 1 p.m.