Winter's Clutch Late Free Throws Turns Away Owls in Final Game of 2022

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 10, 2022) – The Western New England women's basketball team had a high intensity non-conference game against the Westfield State Owls this afternoon at home where they defeated the Owls 80-75.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-6
• Westfield State University: 6-5

How It Happened: Westfield State got right after it with two three pointers made in the opening quarter. Two jump shots and a layup from Lindsey Carey brought the lead to WNE. A layup from Shaina Cooney gave them a three-point lead, 8-5. The Owls kept it close with a full court press, hitting baskets right after WNE. A top of the key three knocked in by the Golden Bear's Abby Garaban had a four-point WNE lead, and another one from Emma Kahn under three minutes in the first gave them the largest lead of the quarter, 16-11. Westfield forced late turnovers and closed the gap to three before the second, 16-13.

Kahn hit the first bucket of the quarter, Cooney added two more layups and now WNE with a nine-point game. The Owls did not put in a basket until the 7:40 mark. The Golden Bears struggled with the press. Kahn had a corner three, and now a 10-point game. An And-one play for Emma Elrod made it 11 five minutes before the half. Again, Westfield's aggressive defense helped them close the score gap. Another Kahn three was answered by an Owls three. The Golden Bears had a run at the end of the second. Erin Reen hit a three, Cooney with another two-points, and a three from Paige Winter. The Golden Bears went into halftime leading the Owls 42-27 despite turnovers due to the Owls press.

After Carey knocked in a basket for the Golden Bears, the Owls had a run of 10 points while keeping WNE off the scoreboard for five minutes by forcing turnovers. Colleen Furlong finally made a layup to put WNE back ahead 10, but a couple of threes for Westfield made it a one possession game, 50-47, 1:27 left in the third. They took the lead with another three in the final second 54-53 entering the fourth.

The fourth was a back-and-forth high scoring quarter, both teams fighting to end with the win. Cooney hit a layup, Golden Bears back ahead. The Owls had a series of three free-throws and a layup. They now had their first lead since the first, 59-55. Kahn made some big baskets to keep the Golden Bears advantage in the ballgame. Garaban took it to the hole and re-took the WNE lead, 4:46 left on the clock. An additional three tied it for Westfield. The Golden Bears stole the intensity of the game with bucket and a foul for one on the foul line by Cooney, then a three for Winter a few plays later, 72-68 Golden Bears. Free-throws controlled the next couple of scores for both teams until the Owls daggered in a three to bring them behind two. The Golden Bears kept it together on the foul line with Westfield in foul trouble to win the game 80-75.

On the Floor:

• The Golden Bears shot 45.9 percent from the paint, 57.1 percent from three-point line, 55.2 percent from the foul line, while gathering 49 rebounds, 19 assists, five steals, and three blocks as a team.
• The Owls had 36.2 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.8 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 33 rebounds, 12 steals, 10 assists, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Shaina Cooney who had a double-double, with 17 points and 16 rebounds. She added two assists and one block. She went 7-14 from inside the paint and 3-5 from the free-throw line.
• Emma Kahn added 17 points as well, Abby Garaban brought down 10 rebounds, and Lindsey Carey collected five assists.

Up Next: The Golden Bears will return to the court after the New Year in an away game against conference opponent the Nichols College Bison Tuesday, January 3, for a 5:30 p.m. start time.