Alicia Lewis' Three-Pointer Completes Furious Comeback Win over Eastern Nazarene, 56-54

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Newcomer Alicia Lewis drained a 3-point field goal with 25 seconds left in the game as Western New England capped a come-from-behind 56-54 victory over Eastern Nazarene in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's basketball action on Saturday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center. The Golden Bears even their record both overall (6-6) and in the conference (3-3), while the visiting Lions slip to 4-9 on the season and 0-6 in the CCC.

Sophomore Chelsea Vujs paced WNE with an all-around performance of 12 points, game-high 15 rebounds, season-high five assists, one blocked shot and two steals. Junior Samantha McCann added 11 points and four blocks.

Nicole Greer came off the Lions' bench to lead all scorers with a career-high 16 points to go along with team-best seven rebounds. Jasmine Johnson added a career-best 15 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Western New England, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, didn't take the lead until Lewis' clutch jumper from beyond the arc on a kick-out pass from Shaylyn Sicard (5 assists, 5 points, 1 block, 1 steal) for a 55-54 lead. She just completed her second year on the WNE women's soccer team in the fall.

But, Eastern Nazarene still had a chance to get the last shot and the potential game-winning bucket. On the following possession after an ENC timeout to set up a play, the Lions had two good looks as Johnson's shot in the paint was blocked by McCann with 9 seconds on the clock and Ruby Leon's running lay-up also came up short at 5 seconds.

McCann grabbed the defensive rebound and passed to Lewis, who was fouled with 1 second remaining. She made the second of two free throws to seal the win.

Eastern Nazarene used its athleticism to bolt to a 13-4 lead just 4 minutes and 47 seconds after the opening tip. Christina Saint-Pierre scored all of her six points on the night during her team's fast start.

The Lions eventually stretched their lead to 25-11 at the 6:38 of the first half on back-to-back treys from Johnson and a jumper by Krystal Holl.

Western New England then battled back to cut the deficit to two points, 27-25, on a Vujs "3" with 2:27 on the clock.

Eastern Nazarene tallied seven of the final nine points of the stanza to head into halftime up 34-27.

In the second half, the Golden Bears opened with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 36-36 with 12:54 left to play. Senior Ashley Flood fueled the run with four points.

The Lions reclaimed a five-point advantage (43-38) by 2:08 later as Greer converted one of her two 3-pointers on the afternoon.

McCann made a lay-in to cut the deficit to 45-44 with 8:25 on the clock, keeping the Golden Bears within two possessions the rest of the way.

Western New England returns to the court on Wednesday when the Golden Bears host Wentworth in a CCC match-up, beginning at 7:30 p.m.