Fisher Named to All-Tournament Team as Golden Bears Defeat Westfield 76-65

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (November 20, 2021) – Women's basketball bounced back in the second day of the LaFrance Hospitality Tournament hosted by UMass-Dartmouth this weekend defeating Westfield State 76-65 while Grace Fisher was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-3
• Westfield State: 0-5

How It Happened:

Fisher scored the first three points of the game for the Golden Bears off an and-one to put them ahead 3-0 just under 30 seconds into the game. The two teams began trading baskets with the Golden Bears remaining in the lead. With Western New England ahead 7-6, the Golden Bears gained control for a 7-0 run to extend their lead 14-6 with Alexia Leon scoring three points. The back-and-forth action quickly began once again before Julia Quinn hit a three to score the final points for the Golden Bears of the quarter. In the final minute, Westfield scored five points to get within one (20-19) headed into the second quarter.

Fisher opened the second quarter with a free throw before the Owls scored just 30 seconds later to tie the game 21-21. This sparked a four-point run for the Owls to take a 25-21 lead with 7:15 left in the quarter. A free throw for Fisher got the Golden Bears back within three and a big three from Leon tied the game 25-25 with 5:24 on the clock. Two more free throws for Fisher gave Western New England a two-point lead only for the Owls to make a three to regain the lead 28-27 with just 4:49 left in the half. Fisher earned and made two more free throws only for the Owls to hit another three to remain in the lead 31-29. Shaina Cooney made a layup with 2:34 on the clock to tie the game 31-31 only for both teams to record a pair of foul shots to end the half tied 33-33.

The Golden Bears opened the third quarter with back-to-back 5-0 runs to earn themselves a 43-36 lead with 5:35 left in the quarter. Both teams made a pair of free throws before Sam Bodey made a layup for Western New England to extend their lead to nine (47-38). A three for the Owls put them within six only for Bodey to make a layup and kickstart a an 8-0 stretch for the Golden Bears to earn their largest lead of the game 55-41. Westfield made a basket only for Emma Elrod to make a layup with 28 seconds left in the quarter to earn Western New England a 57-43 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter began with back-and-forth action with Westfield getting back within eight (59-51) only for the trading of baskets to continue. The Golden Bears led by 10 (63-53) when they took a 30 second timeout. Out of the timeout, Quinn hit back-to-back threes to force Westfield into a timeout with the Golden Bears leading 69-53 with just four minutes left in the game. After the Owls' timeout, they scored three straight points only for the Golden Bears to answer with three points themselves. A pair of free throws for each team put the Golden Bears ahead 74-62 only for the Owls to hit a three with 1:11 on the clock. Quinn scored the final basket for Western New England to win the game 76-65.  

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears shot 45.8 percent from the floor today while recording a 26.3 percent shooting percentage from three and a 79.4 percent shooting percentage from the foul line.
• Western New England recorded 48 rebounds, 17 assists and six steals in the game.
• Fisher was selected to the All-Tournament Team after posting 20 points and six rebounds in this game while earning a double-double (14 pts, 12 rebounds) in Friday night's game.
• Leon scored 12 points in the game with three rebounds, one assist and one steal while Quinn earned 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Up Next:

The Golden Bears return to Springfield on Tuesday, November 23, when they host Eastern Connecticut State at 5 p.m.