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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Despite trailing by 15 in the first quarter, Western New England, which received votes in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25, rallied to overcome the slow start and earn a 63-56 Conference of New England win over the University of New England women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.
 
The Golden Bears (18-1, 11-1 CNE), whose lone loss came to UNE on Jan. 4, outscored the Nor'easters (10-9, 7-5 CNE) 22-4 in their resurgent second quarter to take a 34-27 lead into the break, and never trailed in the second half.
 
Faye Veilleux scored 10 of her 14 total points in the first quarter, helping UNE turn in a dominant start that culminated in a 15-0 lead midway through the frame. Sydney Jenisch helped keep the Nor'easters within striking distance throughout the second half, scoring 16 of her game-high 19 points after the half. Jenisch knocked down a career-best five 3-pointers (5-for-8), and was 4-for-5 from deep in the second half. Nora Young paced Western New England's offense with 14 points off the bench. Lilly Hedge chipped in with 11 points, in addition to her game-high eight rebounds.
 
After UNE shot better than 70 percent from the field in the first quarter, the Golden Bears' defense stiffened to keep the Nor'easters to 37 percent (20-for-54) on the afternoon. Western New England shot at a similar clip, going 24-for-66, and was nearly 50 percent from the floor during its dominant second quarter (9-for-20).
 
The Golden Bears weren't on the board until the 4:06 mark of the first when Young's ice-breaking bucket helped establish some late-quarter momentum for the hosts. Entering the second still with a double-digit deficit (23-12), Western New England used a 15-2 run to grab a 27-25 advantage and only grew their lead in the quarter's final minutes.
 
UNE was within two, 47-45, in the final minute of the third quarter after Jenisch hit a 3-pointer, but the Golden Bears responded to take a 55-45 lead just over two minutes into the fourth, and the Nor'easters were unable to come within one possession again.
 
UNE returns to the Harold Alfond Forum on Wednesday, Feb. 5 to host Endicott at 5:30 p.m.