WNEC Downs Basketball in 2008-09 Opener, 49-41
Game StatisticsSOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 15, 2008) - Led by first year guard Mikaela Berthiaume, the Western New England College women's basketball team picked up a 49-41 triumph over host Mount Holyoke College this afternoon at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. It was the 2008-09 season opener for both squads. With the win, the Golden Bears snapped a three game losing streak versus the Lyons.
Berthiaume was Western New England's lone double digit scorer with 12 points. She collected five rebounds to go with team highs of four assists and two steals. The guard went 7-of-8 from the free throw line en route to ten second half points. The Golden Bears also received a boost from first year center Sarah Proper, who delivered seven points and a game best 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward Loren Stock added eight points off the bench, and classmate Taryn Belowsky came up with three of the guests seven blocked shots.
Junior Erin Cain notched her first career double-double to pace Mount Holyoke. The guard racked up 13 points and 12 boards, both club highs. Her rebound total was a career best. First year guard Christine Chancy tallied eight points and eight rebounds in her collegiate debut. She connected on a pair of three pointers. First year Emma Washauer also fared well in her first contest in a Mount Holyoke uniform. The forward chipped in with seven points, six rebounds and a game high three steals.
Neither team led by more than nine points in the first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. Mount Holyoke controlled things in the early going, outscoring the Golden Bears 10-4 over the first 7:39. Western New England scored the next eight points to gain a 12-10 edge at the 7:38 mark. The Golden Bears then closed out the half with a 9-0 run over the final 3:27 to take control. They entered the intermission with a 24-15 advantage. Stock led all scorers with six points at the break.
Mount Holyoke scored the first eight points of the second stanza to close the gap to 24-23, and a trifecta by Cain put her team in front 30-29 with 13:35 remaining in regulation. Stock knocked down a jumper at the 10:29 mark to put Western New England back in front 33-32. From there, the Golden Bears cruised. They used an 8-0 run to expand their cushion to 44-34 with just over four minutes left in the game. Berthiaume converted all four of her free throw shots during the run. Her team went 5-of-7 from the line over the final four minutes to seal things.
Mount Holyoke (0-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) is scheduled to begin a four game roadtrip at Worcester State College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Western New England (1-0, 0-0 TCCC) will travel to Elms College on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. It will be the second of five straight road games to begin the year for the Golden Bears.