Hartford, Conn. – The visiting Western New England University Golden Bears closed the game with a 12-3 run to steal a 56-54 win against the Trinity College Bantams in women's basketball action this afternoon at Oosting Gymnasium. Trinity falls to 9-3 with its second loss in three days after a nine-game winning streak, while the Golden Bears improve to 9-2. The Bantams will open New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play on Friday at 7 p.m. against No. 3-ranked Bowdoin. The Golden Bears visit Gordon on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in their next game.
Trinity led, 51-44, with six minutes remaining thanks to a jumper by senior tri-captain Peace Kabari (Manchester, N.H.), but surrendered nine points in a row including a long three-pointer from the left wing by junior guard Lauren Chadwick (Gardiner, Maine) that gave the Golden Bears a 52-51 lead with 2:17 on the clock. A Chadwick free throw gave the visitors a 53-51 lead a minute later, but Kabari stole an inbounds pass and pushed the ball ahead to sophomore center Liz Althoff (Staten Island, N.Y.) for a game-tying layup at the 1:04 mark.
Senior forward Meghan Orbann (East Hampton, Conn.) gave Western New England the lead for good on a basket with 53 seconds left to make it 55-53. Trinity sophomore forward Katie Kirsch (Pelham, N.H.) made one of two free throws to cut the Bantam deficit to a point with five seconds left, and Orbann answered with a single foul shot to make it a two-point lead for the visitors with four ticks remaining. Trinity advanced the ball down the right side, but an errant pass went out of bounds to end the game.
Kabari paced Trinity with 13 points to go with six rebounds, four steals, and three assists, while Althoff added 12 points and two blocked shots. Senior center Courtney Carlson (Woodbury, Conn.) had a game-high 14 points with six boards, while Chadwick and Orbann added 12 points apiece for the Golden Bears. Trinity's Bailey Hyland (Broad Brook, Conn.) and Bria Fuller (Springdale, Md.) grabbed five rebounds each, and rookie guard Madison Stevens (Burlington, Conn.) dished four assists. Alyssa Stefanelli (Chicopee, Mass.) pulled down a game-high seven boards, while Orbann added six rebounds, and five assists.