Lions Make Free Throws Down the Stretch to Fend Off Golden Bears in Nailbiter, 67-64

QUINCY, Mass.--Junior Samantha McCann led all scorers with a career-high 18 points for Western New England, but Eastern Nazarene had clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to eke out a 67-64 victory Saturday in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action at the Lahue Physical Education Center. With the win, the Lions earn a split of the regular-season series to improve to 7-16 overall and 3-13 in the CCC; the Golden Bears, meanwhile, dip to 9-14 and 6-10.

McCann, a power forward, made eight of 10 field goal attempts, including a pair of three-pointers, and pulled down a team-best five rebounds. Sophomore Chelsea Vujs (4 rebounds) and graduate student Nicole Daly (4 rebounds) added 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Jasmine Johnson scored the Lions' last four points on free throws--including a pair to break a 64-64 tie with 10 seconds left--as part of a team-best 12 points. Kristina Kaczmarek and Ruby Leon both came off the bench to chip in 11 points apiece.

Trailing 66-64, Western New England had an opportunity for a final possession to tie it or go ahead but the inbounds pass after Johnson's game-winning free throw hit the back of the glass for a turnover.

The Golden Bears were then forced to foul Johnson with 9 seconds left, who missed the first free throw and made the second for a three-point ENC lead. That gave WNE a potential game-tying three-pointer to send the contest into overtime, but freshman Samantha Battaini 's attempt was off the mark at the buzzer.

With Western New England down by three, Daly drained a trey from the left corner to knot the score at 64 with 14 seconds remaining. But on ENC's next possession, Johnson was fouled at mid-court to give her two attempts at the free throw stripe.

Western New England seemingly held a comfortable 58-52 lead with 4 minutes and 20 seconds to go. Vujs started the rally with a three-point play after she was fouled on a lay-in. Daly connected on a three-pointer and Vujs added another lay-in as part of the Golden Bears' offense scoring on three consecutive possessions.

Leon keyed an 11-1 run over a 3:27 span that erased the six-point deficit into a 63-59 advantage, scoring five points.

Eastern Nazarene outscored WNE in second-chance points, 14-6, making the most of its 11 offensive rebounds. The Lions also led 39-31 in the rebounding department, as Jordan Grays (6 points) led all players with six.

For the game, WNE shot 42.6 percent (26-61) from the field while the Lions were at a 46.3 clip (25-54). Eastern Nazarene scored more points from the free throw line than WNE, 16-6.

The afternoon featured six ties and 10 lead changes.

Western New England led 28-24 at halftime after holding ENC's offense to 35.7 percent (10-28) from the floor. The Golden Bears built its biggest lead of 12 points, 22-10, at 8:21 of the first half after senior co-captain Ali Pessolano (7 points) nailed a three-pointer from the right corner.

Jamie Emerson scored six of her seven points on the day, including a turnaround jumper just before the half, during a 14-6 run to help the Lions close within four points at the intermission.

Western New England returns home to the Alumni Healthful Living Center for its final two games next week, beginning with Salve Regina at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.