BOSTON, MA (January 24, 2024) – The UMass Boston women's basketball team knocked on victory's door but fell just short in the end against Little East Conference opponents the Wolves of Western Connecticut from Danbury, CT as the Beacs dropped a conference game from the road on Wednesday evening.

Tonight, it was graduate forward Paige Olliverre leading the way for the Beacons offensively, with 12 points on five made field goals including two buckets from long-range. First-year guard Maddie Parks also had a breakout game with a career-high 12 points on 5-9 shooting from the field. Parks and Olliverre were supported by graduate and sophomore guards Keriann Farina and Sophie Bradbury, with both players contributing nine points in the effort. Farina made three shots along with three free throws, with Bradbury connecting on four shots including one from deep range. Farina served as the primary playmaker on the offensive end, dishing out a team-high four assists. Bradbury continued her impressive efforts on the glass leading with a team-high six rebounds, along with senior forward Alexah Potter who also contributed six rebounds to go along with her four points. Bradbury also led the team in steals, as she forced a Wolves' turnover on three separate occasions.

Potter won the tip for the Beacs to start conference play. Farina would open the scoring column with a good layup in the paint off a dish from Potter. The Beacons and the Wolves were going shot for shot to begin the game, as neither team was able to jump out to a significant lead at any point in the first period. With halfway expired in the first, junior forward Sunny Green hit a pair of free throws to put the Beacons up by one point (8-7). With the time expiring in the first and the Beacs up two, the Wolves' Sydney Craig connected on a mid-range jumper to tie things even at 12 apiece going into the second quarter.

The second period was the Maddie Parks show, as the freshman guard contributed six points on 3-4 shooting, to go along with a crucial offensive rebound and putback to give the Beacons a 12-point cushion with under five minutes to play in the second period. Bradbury was also able to heat up in the second period, going 2-3 including a three-pointer off a Parks assist near the beginning of the quarter that would elevate the Beacons' momentum and added to their second period run. UMass Boston shot 50% in the quarter, as they lit up the field going 8-16 including five trips to the charity stripe and three second-chance opportunities, resulting in a 22-15 run in the quarter to give them a seven-point cushion going into the break.

The Wolves started the second half swiftly, as the Wolves' Gabrielle Franks delivered an and-one layup to kick things off in the third quarter. Franks followed up with another forceful drive in the paint to finish in the lane, as she cut deeper into the Wolves' deficit. A quick answer from Olliverre from outside and in the paint put the Beacs back up by eight. The biggest Beacons' lead of the quarter was 12 points following a Parks' layup, however, the Wolves would stay within striking distance, as they would finish the quarter out by outscoring the Beacons by one point (18-17). Both teams made seven field goals, with the Wolves connecting from outside on three different possessions in the third period. Western Connecticut emphasized the offensive glass coming out of the break, as they
finished the quarter out-rebounding the Beacons by one, securing four offensive rebounds to produce second chances.

The Wolves started off the final quarter in the same fashion as they did when they came out of the halftime break, forcing a strong drive to finish a layup in the paint. They were able to even the score within three minutes of the final quarter, as they held the Beacons scoreless for the first four minutes. Sophomore Kayla Jackson hit a pair of free throws to keep the Beacons to within one point of the Wolves, but the wheels began to wobble for the Beacs, as the Wolves' defense held UMass Boston to just six points in the final five minutes of the game, outscoring the Beacons 21-8 in the fourth quarter.

The Beacons travel back home and shake this one off before taking back Clark Gymnasium on Saturday, January 27 at 1:00 pm as they look to sink the Anchormen of Rhode Island College in another LEC conference matchup. The loss tonight puts them back to 4-13 on the season while going 2-8 in LEC play. Tune into UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com) for live stats and video coverage of Saturday's matchup, as the Beacs look to get back on track.