The University of Hartford women's basketball team fell to Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Western New England, 60-55, Thursday inside the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion.
 
Hartford didn't connect on a single field goal over the final 2:22 as the Golden Bears tallied six of the last seven points to secure the victory. The scoring drought came on the heels of freshman Adrianna McCoy tying the game at 54 with a pair of free throws.
 
Freshman Ella Marchesani was the catalyst to the early comeback as the guard scored six straight points of the fourth quarter, a three-pointer and a three-point play, to pull Hartford even. WNE reclaimed the lead, until the aforementioned McCoy free throws.
 
After a tightly contested opening quarter, the second quarter unfolded as a captivating back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads. Throughout the first half, no team enjoyed a lead larger than three points until WNE secured a narrow advantage with a pair of free throws in the final 11 seconds, entering halftime with the lead.
 
The third quarter saw WNE maintain their lead.
 
Marchesani finished with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. McCoy added 10 points for the Hawks. The freshman duo of Eva Naszimento and Jaida Cunningham combined for 20 rebounds, 10 each as both pulled down career-highs. The pair helped the Hawks have the edge on the glass, 33-27.
 
 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• This is Marchesani's fifth game in a row scoring double-digits as she tied her career-high of 17 points. She has led the team in scoring in four consecutive contests.
• Both teams had the same amount of bench points (15) and points in the paint (14).
• McCoy has now scored in double figures in seven games this season.
• The game features four ties and 11 lead changes.

 
WHAT'S NEXT
Hartford (6-4 overall, 2-2 CCC opponents) remains home to face Endicott 1 p.m. Saturday.