MILTON, Mass. – Visiting Western New England University overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to pull away from Curry College, 58-54, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women’s basketball action Tuesday night in Milton. The Golden Bears improved to 5-9 overall and 4-3 in conference play, while the Colonels fell to 4-9 overall and 2-4 in CCC action.

Curry’s largest lead of the game (27-18) came after junior Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) sank a pair from the charity stripe with forty seconds remaining in the first half. Junior Emily Savino (Ellington, Conn.) split a pair of free throws at the end of the first period to send WNE into intermission with an eight point deficit (27-19).

The Golden Bears went on a 17-6 run over the first 5:09 of the second half. Sophomore Ali Pessolano (Hampden, Mass.) was responsible for 13 of WNE’s 17 points. After three lead changes, the Golden Bears took the lead with 3:49 left in the second period after Savino split another pair of free throws. The Colonels pulled within two (56-54) with 1:13 remaining in regulation after Rafferty made a layup. WNE then turned the ball over, but Curry couldn’t capitalize and was forced to intentionally foul. Pessolano then sank both free throws to secure the Golden Bears’ victory.

WNE was led by Pessolano with 17 points, while Savino added 16. Senior Sarah Proper (Coxsackie, N.Y.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Freshman Sam McCann (Warren, Mass.) pulled down 10 boards.

Rafferty led the Colonels with a game-high 19 points. Rafferty also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Kylie Beltz (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) chipped in with 13 points.

Both teams are on the road this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. with Curry traveling to Eastern Nazarene and Western New England visiting Roger Williams.