Women's Basketball

An Incredible Ride: Women’s Basketball Falls Just Short In NCAA Tournament Second Round Despite 17 Point, 17 Rebound Night From Hedge

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (March 8, 2025) – The Western New England women's basketball team saw an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter quickly dwindle while a late flurry of chances would not fall seeing the hosting Bullets of Gettysburg College come away with a 55-52 win over the Golden Bears to move on to the Sweet 16 round in the NCAA Championships. Lilly Hedge put forth a courageous effort with 17 points and 17 rebounds in the heartbreaking loss. 

Records:
  • Western New England: 25-4
  • Gettysburg College: 27-2
How it Happened:

The Bullets raced out with the early 2-0 lead, getting a layup from Kimberly Hopkins. The Golden Bears would come up with their first lead of the game at 5-4 as Lilly Hedge would drive to the lane and score just two minutes into the game as the action-packed first quarter was just getting started. Shaina Cooney added to her 1,000+ point total in the early goings of the quarter getting a layup to fall on the fastbreak, keeping the Golden Bears ahead. Western New England would lead by as many as five with 2:46 to go after Hedge and Caitlyn Hunt would score on back-to-back possessions for Western New England. Gettysburg answered with a three but Lilly Hedge continued to dominate the offensive side of the ball, scoring a three of her own, getting the lead back up to five. The lead would hold at five after one quarter of play, with Western New England dropping 20 first quarter points on Gettysburg. The Golden Bears shot 6/9 from the field in the first quarter and were 7/8 from the free throw line. Gettysburg hit five shots, two from distance in the opening frame and made 3/4 free throws.

Both teams exchanged points through the first four minutes of the second quarter, with Western New England maintaining around a five-point lead to begin. Hedge and Cooney had opening quarter hoops for Western New England. Cooney would extend WNE's lead with six for the first time in the game with 3:46 to play, getting a pass from Colleen Furlong. Gettysburg would not go quietly, however, picking up the final four points of the half and six of the final eight to trail by just two heading into the second half. WNE scored just eight second quarter points after dropping down 20 in the first half. The Golden Bears went 0/5 from deep in the second. Gettysburg shot just 4/9 in the second quarter but outscored WNE 11-8. 

The Bullets shot out of a cannon to begin the third quarter, going on a quick 6-0 run to begin the frame to flip WNE's lead into a lead of their own, taking a 32-28 advantage with 8:09 still to play. Lilly Hedge would come up with a big-time bucket to stop the Bullets run while Emma Kahn would hit back-to-back threes to give WNE their lead back, 36-34, with 3:42 to play. The Golden Bears would be fueled by the triples from Kahn, going on a 13-0 run as Kahn had nine points in the quarter, giving the Golden Bears a 43-34 lead. Gettysburg would hit the final four points of the quarter, which turned out to be important, trailing by just five after three quarters. The Golden Bears made six field goals, two from deep in the third quarter. Gettysburg was just 4/12 in the frame. 

The Bullets again came out with a quick run to begin the fourth quarter, hitting four straight free throws to get back within one quickly. Gettysburg lived at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, which turned out to be to their advantage. Sophie hedge would spark another WNE run, hitting back-to-back triples with 5:12 left that gave the blue and gold an 8-point lead which would force a time out by Gettysburg. From there, Shanaya Lee would take over at the free throw line for the Bullets while also coming up with a pair of blocks on the defensive end of the floor to help Gettysburg pull back into the game period Gettysburg would make just two field goals in the quarter but would be clutch from the free throw line, tying the game at 50 with two minutes and three seconds to play. Western New England dropped their next two pointer following a timeout, giving the blue and gold a two-point lead with 1:31 to play. With 41 seconds to play, Eva O'Neill of Gettysburg splashed her first make of the game, a corner triple, giving Gettysburg a 54-52 lead. Western New England will have two chances to tie the game after the Bullets would lead by three, 55 to 52, but the two attempts would be unsuccessful as the Bullets would escape Western New England, defeating the Golden Bears 55 to 52.

Inside the Lines:
  • Western New England went 9/13 from the free throw line on the night while Gettysburg made 21 of their 31 attempts overall.
  • Lily hedge led Western New England in scoring with 17 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, a career high, while picking up two assists and a steal in the game.
  • Shaina Cooney was also in double figures in scoring for the Golden Bears with ten points, shooting 3/5 from the field and 4/6 from the free throw line while also coming up with three rebounds and two steals.
  • Western New England was a bleak 3/15 from the floor in the fourth quarter, to their demise, going just 2/8 from three and only having two free throw attempts in the entire fourth quarter.
  • Gettysburg only made two field goals in the fourth quarter but were led by their free throw shooting, going 12/18 at the line.
  • Western New England sees their season end with a 25-4 record overall. This is the first time in which the Golden Bears have made the NCAA Tournament's second round.
  • Gettysburg outscored WNE 17-9 in the fourth quarter.
  • A special thank you to six western New England seniors, Lily Hedge, Shaina Cooney, Emma Kahn, Colleen Furlong, Caitlyn Hunt, Emma Novajasky, and Abby Marasco, for your dedication and hard work towards WNE women's basketball.