Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The University of New England women's basketball team dominated the second half, wiping out a double-digit halftime deficit to earn a key 66-54 Conference of New England road victory over Western New England University on Saturday afternoon inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.
 
Three from UNE (6-8, 4-1) scored in double figures, including Grace Boucher, who finished with 13 and hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter – one midway through the frame that handed the Nor'easters a 51-47 lead, and another shortly after that broke a 51-51 tie and gave UNE a lead it would not surrender. Emily Picher matched Boucher with 13, and Gabby Soter finished with 11, eight of which came from important fourth-quarter free throws.
 
The Golden Bears (9-4, 3-2), who made it to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship a season ago, were led by Sophie Hedge's game-high 18 points, while Hannah Blake chipped in with 15. WNEU was five percent better from the field and had a slight 35-32 edge on the glass, but 19 turnovers – including seven during the third quarter – were too much to overcome against the Nor'easters, who only committed 10.
 
In addition to taking care of the ball, UNE matched its season-best with eight made 3-pointers. Boucher hit three of those (3-for-5), and Hannah Cook was 2-for-2 from deep to aid the long-range effort.
 
After holding a 32-22 halftime advantage, the Golden Bears hiked their lead as high as 13 during the third quarter and maintained a double-digit lead inside the 2-minute mark before UNE put together a 7-0 run to trail by only 42-39 and steal the momentum entering the fourth.
 
The Nor'easters had their first lead since the opening moments of the first quarter when Cook hit a triple on UNE's second possession of the fourth. The lead traded hands until Boucher's first 3-pointer of the quarter provided a two-possession advantage with 5:36 left. WNEU quickly drew even, 51-51, but it was all UNE from that point forward, beginning with another trey from Boucher. Having hit their free throws down the stretch to comfortably seal the win, the Nor'easters outscored the Golden Bears 27-12 in the fourth quarter, and 44-22 in the second half. WNEU was just 4-for-16 from the floor during the final frame, while UNE went 5-for-11, 3-for-6 from deep and 14-for-19 at the charity stripe.
 
The Nor'easters, winners of three straight so far in the month of January, are back on the road Saturday, Jan. 17 to visit Johnson & Wales at 1 p.m.