Women's Basketball

Kahn Drops Career-High 22 Points To Help WNE Advance To Second Straight Conference Title Game

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 27, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team never trailed in Thursday night's Conference of New England Semifinal Tournament game, while senior Emma Kahn led the way to WNE's second-straight Conference of New England title game, scoring a career-high 22 points, helping the Golden Bears come up with a 67-49 win over the fourth seeded Nor'easters of the University of New England. 

Records:
  • Western New England: 24-2
  • University of New England: 15-12
How it Happened:

Shaina Cooney scored first for the Golden Bears on an offensive rebound putback while Emma Kahn had the next five for WNE before the Nor'easters were able to score, with WNE jetting out to a quick 7-0 lead. UNE's top-scorer Faye Veilleux would put three points up on the board next but the Golden Bears would have the next four after Lilly Hedge and Colleen Furlong would quickly contribute, giving Western New England an 11-3 lead. WNE would continue to hold the Nor'easters at bat while Paige Winter and Sophie Hedge had a triple each in the final 1:25 of the first quarter, giving the Golden Bears a 22-11 first quarter lead. UNE shot 33% from the field in the opening quarter while the Golden Bears shot 50% overall, going 8/16 overall and 4/8 from deep. 

Kaia Anderson had the first two points for UNE in the second quarter before Western New England would score the next six, four from Emma Kahn and two from Perry Blasetti, giving Western New England a 15-point lead. Western New England lived at the free throw line in the second quarter, going to the line 12 times, sinking all 12 attempts. UNE would attempt to stay in the game after Sydney Jenisch and Maddy Werner would contribute but the Golden Bears would continue to have answers for every UNE bucket. WNE held a 17-point lead with 2:54 left in the second quarter but the Nor'easters would quickly score five, three from Jenisch and a jumper from Mia Acario, getting UNE back within 12, 36-24. Western New England would get two free throws from Lilly Hegde to end the half while Anderson converted on a three-point play in the final seconds for the Nor'easters, ending the second half in favor of Western New England, who led by 11, 38-27. UNE hit five more field goals in the second quarter, two of which came from three. Western New England was far less effective from the floor in the second quarter, making just two field goals but were aided by their free throw shooting, going 100% from the line. 

The Golden Bears looked to Emma Kahn to open the third quarter as Kahn would drive to the rim to score a layup while Lilly Hedge would set up Kahn for another triple, getting Western New England's lead back up to 16 just two and a half minutes into the quarter. WNE opened the third on an 8-0 run, which pushed their lead to its largest of the game thus far, 47-27. WNE continued to respond to UNE's made baskets as Sophie Hedge would have seven points in the third quarter to lead the way for the blue and gold overall. Western New England's lead hovered around 20 throughout the third quarter while Sophie Hedge had the final four points overall for the Golden Bears to end the half, giving Western New England a 21-point lead after three quarters with just ten minutes remaining in the game. WNE was 5/9 from the field in the third and hit three of the four threes. UNE struggled in the third, going just 3/13 overall. 

Western New England would take a commanding lead to start the fourth quarter to put the game away as Shaina Cooney and Sophie Hedge started the quarter with buckets for WNE, giving the Golden Bears a 26-point lead, 60-34. Cooney would shine in the final quarter, scoring seven of WNE's 11 points in the quarter,
which helped the Golden Bears past UNE. The Nor'easters would attempt to make a late run with Faye Veilleux hitting from outside but the late 11-0 run for the road team would not be enough as Western New England would come up with a 67-49 victory, advancing to the Conference of New England championship game for the second-straight season. 

Inside the Lines:
  • Emma Kahn poured in a career high 22 points on the night, shooting 8/16 and 4/9 from three. Kahn collected four rebounds and an assist in the win.
  • Sophie Hedge picked up 12 points in nine minutes of action, picking up two rebounds in the win. 
  • CNE Player of the Year Lilly Hedge recorded a double-double with ten points and 12 rebounds in the win. 
  • CNE second-teamer Shaina Cooney had 13 rebounds in the game and finished with nine points overall. 
  • UNE was led by Kaia Anderson, who scored 12 points on 4/10 shooting, picking up four rebounds. 
  • Faye Veilleux picked up ten points and five rebounds for the Nor'easters. 
  • Western New England doubled up UNE in rebounds, 50-25. 
  • The Golden Bears shot 39% from the field in the game. WNE was 20/25 from the free throw line. 
  • This is the second straight season in which the Golden Bears have ended the Nor'easters season.
Up Next on the Schedule:
  • The number one seeded Golden Bears will take on the other semifinal winner, the Gulls of Endicott College on Saturday, March 1 at 4:00 PM. The Golden Bears and Gulls split the regular season series this year with the road team coming out on top in each matchup.