Women’s Basketball Downs Western New England, 61-54

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- Junior Shelby Holmes (Seeley Lake, Mont.) poured in a season-high 22 points to lead the Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team to a 61-54 victory at Western New England Saturday afternoon.

The Lions jump to 11-3 on the year and 5-3 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the win. The Golden Bears dip to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in league play with the loss.

Along with her 22 points, Holmes added eight rebounds and a pair of blocks. Jaysa Cooper (Frisco, Texas) and Jacquelin Arretche (Los Banos, Calif.) both registered 11 points and four boards off the bench. BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) finished with nine points, nine rebounds, and five assists on the day.

The home team netted the game's first six points in the opening 1:30 to seize a 6-0 edge.

The visitors pulled even with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter as Arretche sank a free throw, 9-9.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up 10 straight points while holding Western New England bucket-less for the final 3:04 of the opening frame to carve out a 19-12 lead after 10 minutes of play.

The Golden Bears pulled to within three points as Emily Farrell drained a free throw with 6:05 left to play in the second period, 22-19.

Fraser knocked down a jumper in the closing seconds of the first half to give the Lions a 33-27 halftime advantage.

The hosts reclaimed a one-point edge with 5:41 to go in the third, 39-38, on a trey by Emily Anderson.

The guests responded with a three-pointer by Holmes to regain a 41-39 lead with 5:28 remaining.

After Western New England leveled the contest at 43-43 with 3:01 on the clock, Eastern Nazarene tallied three unanswered baskets to hang onto a 49-43 advantage at the start of the fourth frame.

The Golden Bears opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 stretch to tie the score at 51-51 with 3:57 left to play.

Eastern Nazarene outscored Western New England 10-4 in the final 3:30 of regulation to notch its fourth-consecutive win.

The Lions shot 43.8% from the floor and 37.0% from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears finished with a field-goal percentage of 29.5% while connecting on just 5-of-21 attempts from the perimeter.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns home to take on the University of New England January 17.