STRONG SECOND HALF BY COLONIALS DOOM PRIDE

DANBURY, CT – The Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team outscored the visitors from Regis College 34-13 over the final 11 minutes of play to claim a come from behind 74-63 victory Tuesday evening at Feldman Arena.

Senior Caroline Brasa (East Harford, CT) recorded a double-double for Western with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Colonials were sophomore Samantha Smith (Wallingford, CT) with 19 points and freshman Kaitlyn LeBonte (South Windsor, CT) with 13 points.

For Regis, sophomore Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, MA) and senior Janaya Bradley (New Haven, CT) each scored 21 points, while senior Emilee Marro (Bedford, NH) added 13 points. Hawkesworth also led Regis on the boards with 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half.

Western got the scoring started in the first minute with a layup by Brasa, and then held Regis scoreless for the first five minutes to take an 8-0 lead. Regis fought back to narrow the Western lead to 8-6 on a Hawkesworth layup at the 12:52 mark, but an and-one by freshman Nicole Mierzejewski (Meridan, CT) pushed the Colonial lead to 11-6, and a minute later a layup by sophomore Emily Dobson (Westerly, RI) made the lead 13-6.

At the 7:30 mark, a LeBonte 3-pointer kept the Western lead at seven points, 22-15, but four minutes later that lead had vanished when a Bradley free throw tied the score at 26-26 with 3:34 remaining in the half.

Hawkesworth gave Regis its first lead of the game on the next possession, 28-26, and stretched the visitor's advantage to three points, 32-29, after a free throw with just under one minute on the clock. A LeBonte jumper for Western made the halftime margin 32-31 in favor of Regis.

Regis out-played Western over the first eight minutes of the second half, building a 10-point lead, 50-40, and appeared headed for its 14th victory of the season. However, a Brasa layup at the 11:01 mark began a 16-1 run by the Colonials over the next five minutes that put Western back in the lead, 56-51.

A Marro jumper cut the Western lead to two points with just under four minutes to play, but Western closed with a 14-5 run to claim a 74-63 come from behind victory.

For the game, Western held a 52-34 advantage in rebounds, and also had a 19-10 edge in assists. Western finished shooting 43.6% from the floor and 78.6% from the line, while Regis hit 33.3% and 55.9%, respectively.

With the win, Western improves to 12-7 on the season, while Regis falls to 13-5. Regis plays at Bay Path on Thursday, February 5. The Colonials also return to action on Thursday when they host Purchase College. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Release courtesy of Western Connecticut State University Sports Information