SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Abby Cavallaro (CCC 1st Team) poured in a career-high 25 points to lead No.4 University of New England in a wire-to-wire victory over No.1 Western New England University, 62-53, in the semifinals of the 2020 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Basketball Championship on Thursday night (Feb. 27) at the AHL Center.

The Nor'easters (20-7) book a spot in the program's 10th CCC title game with the triumph, a season removed from capturing six consecutive league crowns from 2013-18. UNE will travel to third-seeded Endicott College (a 60-54 winner over No.2 Roger Williams) on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tip-off. [Interactive Bracket]

The setback was the first of the season at home for the Golden Bears (21-5), who saw their six-game unbeaten streak end. Western New England is in decent position to hope for an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship, sitting at third in the most recent Northeast regional rankings.

UNE had dropped both regular-season meetings to WNEU by a combined 20 points (11 and 9) while shooting 28.7 percent from the floor and scoring 17 points at the line. Cavallaro scored a total of 15 points with six baskets in those contests. Thursday evening, the Nor'easters connected at a 41.7 percent clip (20-for-48) from the field (Cavallaro 7 FG) and cashed in on 19 freebies.

Cavallaro was a perfect 9-of-9 at the charity stripe to match one other performance in UNE's 45 all-time CCC tournament games with flawless accuracy of making at least nine free throws. Jocelyn Chaput (CCC 2nd Team) notched her third double-double of the year with 12 points and a game-best 10 rebounds. Ashley Coneys also tallied 12 points in 22 minutes that were limited by foul trouble.

Madalyn Sanborn and Sadie Nelson (CCC 3rd Team) contributed eight boards and four blocks, respectively, which aided the defensive effort that held the Golden Bears to 31 percent shooting (19-of-61) and forced 19 turnovers.

For Western New England, Courtney Carlson (CCC 2nd Team) posted 17 points and seven caroms before fouling out in the middle of the 4th quarter. Meghan Orbann (CCC 2nd Team) added 10 points. UNE limited the team's leading scorer, Emily Farrell (CCC 1st Team), to a mere four points -- nearly 10 below her season average.

Cavallaro was dialed in at the start, accounting for 13 points as the Nor'easters assumed an 18-8 cushion through 10 minutes. The Golden Bears shot just 1-for-12 in the frame and committed eight turnovers. The lead stretched as high as 16 in the 2nd (26-10, 30-14) and sat on 34-23 at the half.

Five UNE turnovers in the 3rd helped WNEU close the gap to seven (45-38), and Carlson opened the 4th with a three-point play to make it four. But Coneys answered with back-to-back hoops for the visitors (49-41) and the hosts could only get back within five (52-47, 58-53) in the waning minutes. Cavallaro sealed things with four points in the last 18 seconds.

Saturday in Beverly will mark the first time UNE and Endicott meet the decide the conference champion. The sides split the regular-season series with road results -- 75-70 in favor of the Nor'easters back on December 4, and 84-69 for the Gulls three weeks ago.