SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore guard Emily Savino (Ellington, CT) scored a game-high 16 points as the Western New England College women's basketball team defeated visiting Mount Holyoke 48-37 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night (Nov. 16) in the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

With head coach Nickie Chaszar on maternity leave, interim coach Dave Proulx saw the Golden Bears score the first 13 points of the game and hold the Lyons without a basket for 11 minutes, 58 seconds.

Western New England College went into halftime with a 24-14 lead.

Mount Holyoke rallied by cutting the margin to six on four occasions, the last time at 42-36 following a pair of free throws by freshman guard Annabel Barrett (Williamstown, MA) with 3:57 left in the game.

WNEC responded with six straight points capped by a basket by Savino with 1:27 remaining. Sophomore guard Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, MA) hit a free throw for the visitors' final point with 36 seconds left.

Senior guard Taryn Belowsky (New Haven, CT) netted nine points and pulled down five rebounds for the Golden Bears. Senior forward Kelly McCormick (Manchester, CT) and sophomore guard Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, CT) each added seven points. Junior forward Sarah Proper (Coxsackie, NY) grabbed a game high 10 rebounds.

Savino made 6-for-10 shots from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and both free throws.

Mount Holyoke had two players in double figures as Pascual and junior guard Christine Chancy (Bay Harbor Island, FL) each netted 10 points with four rebounds. Chancy also had a game high four steals. Junior forward Tricia Chase (Feeding Hills, MA) had nine rebounds.

The Lyons had a horrible shooting performance connecting on only 22% of their field goal attempts and making just 8-of-22 shots from the foul line for 36.4%.

WNEC made 33.3% of its shots from the field and 12-of-16 charity attempts for 75%.

Mount Holyoke held a 50-39 advantage off the boards thanks to 28 offensive rebounds.