Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—A slow start put the Gordon Women's Basketball squad behind early and despite a furious offensive effort in the second half, the Scots fell 66-42 to Western New England on a frigid Tuesday night. Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Fall, Ohio) led Gordon with 12 points, but the Scots struggled to find the offensive firepower that led to a big win against Wentworth last Saturday.
 
Western New England opened the game on a 14-1 run, as the Golden Bears committed to shutting down the Scots' interior game with Fredi Nielsen (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Kratche. The Golden Bears found success with the mid-range game and from deep on the back of Samantha McCann, who scored nine of the WNE's first 10 points.
 
McCann scored all of her game-high 13 points in the first half and the Golden Bears headed into the halftime break with a 34-14 lead.
 
Gordon shot much better in the second half, as Kratche and Mariel Barner (Colorado Springs, Colo.) warmed up from the floor. The junior combo-guard scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, while Barner finished with eight points on the night to lead the Scots in scoring. Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) contributed nine points off of the bench.
 
The Scots made several runs in the second half, but could not break through the Bears' double-digit advantage. WNE's game plan to shut down the hot freshman Nielsen worked to perfection, as her streak of double-doubles came to a close at four games.
 
Western New England shot an impressive 58 percent from behind the arch, but the long-distance shots were unkind to the Scots, who shot just 4-for-21 from three. The Golden Bears also outrebounded Gordon 44-32 in the game.
 
The Scots will look to rebound on Thursday night when Curry comes to Wenham for an important early-season CCC matchup.