Road win for women's basketball in birthplace of the sport

SPRINGFIELD, Mass - Senior captain Samantha McCann scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but the Western New England University women's basketball team fell to Salve Regina, 66-55, on Tuesday night at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house in a CCC matchup.

The Golden Bears fall to 10-5 (5-4CCC) and the Seahawks extend their winning streak to four games, and advance to 10-6 (7-2CCC).

Meaghan Harden - the CCC's leading scorer, averaging 20.7 ppg - dropped in a game-high 23 points, while pulling down nine boards for the Seahawks.

From the outset, the Golden Bears' physicality was manifested through the down low play of McCann. She consistently fought for position on the low block, and was unfazed by the frequent double teams. For the Golden Bears' second score of the game, McCann took the ball in the paint, spun around—drop stepped and finished with three defenders trying to swat it away.

Sophomore guard Sammie Battaini netted 10 points and dished out five assists and junior Chelsea Vujs added eight points.

Salve Regina outshot the Golden Bears from the floor, knocking down 21-of-48, resulting in 43.8 percent; the Golden Bears were 21-for-61, finishing at 34.4 percent.

A put back basket by Sammie Olson (seven points) ended a Seahawks' 11-0 run with 9:58 remaining in the first half, cutting their lead to 18-9. McCann continued the Golden Bears' push by finding excellent position on the inside and grabbing her own rebound twice before finishing around a host of defenders.

A string of ill-advised possessions from the Seahawks allowed the Golden Bears to cut into the deficit. Battaini nailed a trey and a long two to cut the lead to three points. McCann helped narrow the deficit to 27-26 with 2:50 remaining, after securing an offensive rebound and working the ball to the guards. She then popped out to the wing and drilled the spot-up corner two.

McCann, who's averaging 4.4 rebounds per game, pulled in four in the first half, and added 13 points to aid the Golden Bears' offense. Their ability to control the glass and find McCann in the post kept the Golden Bears in the game, despite shooting 32. 4 percent from the field.

Harden dropped in a layup for the Seahawks, finishing out the first half up 36-28. Harden netted 15 first-half points, on five-of-eight from the field, playing the fill 20 minutes.

After being outscored 9-4 at the start of the second half, the Golden Bears put together an inside-out attack, feeding the cutters and draining the outside shot. Battaini knocked down a three-ball with 13 minutes left, cutting the lead to four.

Olson and Vujs hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Golden Bears within eight points, but Seahawks' strong defensive effort helped close the game.

The Golden Bears distributed the ball well, picking up 17 assists, compared to the Seahawks' 12.

Brianna Del Valle added 18 points for the Seahawks and Laura Anne Dinan contributed 13 and handed out seven helpers.

The Golden Bears will face the University of New England in their next matchup, on the road, this Saturday. Salve Regina makes a short trip to Bristol to face Roger Williams University for the second time this season.