Statistics

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Lauren Sabia's 3-pointer with three seconds remaining allowed Hartford to complete its comeback over the University of New England and earn a 61-58 victory in Saturday afternoon's Conference of New England women's basketball nailbiter.
 
The Hawks (2-5, 1-1 CNE) chipped away at a 15-point third-quarter deficit to take a 53-51 lead just inside of the 2:00 mark with Sabia's first of two clutch triples. In an action-packed final five seconds, Faye Veilleux tied the game, 53-53, on a well-executed inbounds play before Sabia, who finished with a game-high 26 points, buried the game winner on the ensuing Hartford possession.
 
The Nor'easters (4-5, 1-1 CNE) began building their lead with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Hartford 19-9 to enter halftime with a double-digit lead. Hartford's offense struggled to find its footing early, having committed 19 first-half turnovers, before using the boost of Sabia's 15 second-half points to finish the comeback.
 
Sabia went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc on her way to 26 points, and she was joined in double figures by Ella Marchesani. Gabby Soter was 10-of-12 from the free throw line to finish with a team-high 15 points for the Nor'easters, while Veilleux followed with 13.
 
Grace Boucher's bucket, the culmination of an 18-4 run, gave the Nor'easters their largest lead of 38-23 at the 6:37 mark of the third. The Hawks cut the deficit in half, trailing 43-36 by the end of the frame, and eventually tied the game at the charity stripe midway through the fourth. Sabia's go-ahead triple with 1:58 remaining put the Hawks on top, 53-51, for the first time since the opening quarter. Maddy Werner came up with a key basket for the Nor'easters after Hartford upped its lead at the free throw line, and Soter tied the game at 55-55 with under a minute remaining. Maddie Maccannell had the answer for the Hawks, who took a 57-55 lead before sending Soter to the line on the other end.
 
Soter knocked down one of two freebies, as did Sabia on Hatford's next possession, setting the stage for UNE to tie the game with seconds left thanks to Veilleux's lay-in before Sabia's catch-and-shoot corner triple handed the Hawks the victory.
 
UNE has another conference road test on Tuesday, Dec. 10, set to travel to Gordon for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.