Harkless Named to WNEC Golden Bear Women's Basketball Hoops Classic

Norwich 75, Bay Path 24 (Third-Place Game) Trinity 70, Western New England College 59 (Championship game)

Tournament MVP - Michelle Royals (Trinity)
All-Tournament Team - Christine Card (Trinity), Kailah Al-Darraji (Western New England College), Emily Savino (Western New England College), Jess Jaggers (Norwich), Nadine Harkless (Bay Path)

 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Senior center Christine Card (Waterbury, CT) and sophomore guard Michelle Royals (Torrington, CT) combined for 45 points to lead the Trinity College women's basketball team to a 70-59 victory over host Western New England College in the championship game of the inaugural Golden Bears Hoop Classic Sunday afternoon (Nov. 22).

Sophomore forward Nadine Harkless (Westfield, Mass.) named to the WNEC Golden Bear Women's Basketball Hoops Classic. Bay Path falls in consolation game 75-24 to Norwich College.

Bay Path had a nine-rebound performance by senior forward Jessica Hunt (Madison, CT) while adding four points. Harkless also added four points for the Wildcats.

Senior guard Ashley Cimmino (Westfield, MA) and junior guard Katie Begin (Weare, NH) each scored five points for the Wildcats who fall to 1-3.

Card scored a game high 25 points with six rebounds while Royals added 20 points with a game best four steals. Royals, who had 17 points on Saturday in a win over Norwich, was selected the Tournament MVP. Card made the All-Tournament Team.

Trinity (2-0) used an 18-0 run in the opening half to take a 40-20 lead at halftime.

Western New England College (1-2) battled back and cut the deficit to nine at 60-51 following a pair of free throws by freshman guard Emily Savino (Ellington, CT) with 2:26 left. The Golden Bears pulled within six at 64-58 when sophomore forward Sarah Proper (Coxsackie, NY) scored on a lay-up with 39 seconds remaining. Royals answered with a lay-up seven seconds later to help seal the win.

WNEC had a tough time dealing with Card who made 11-of-15 shots from the field along with all three foul shots. Royals was 6-of-12 from the floor and made 4-of-7 three-pointers, and all four charity shots. Senior guard Tess Donie (Worcester, MA) was the third Trinity player in double figures with 13 points.

Savino played a terrific game, finishing with 20 points (including

8-of-9 from the foul line) and a game high five assists. Senior guard Kailah Al-Darraji (Dover, NH) collected 14 points, all in the second half.

Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Norwich senior forward Jess Jaggars (Vergennes, VT) and Bay Path sophomore forward Nadine Harkless (Westfield, MA).

Trinity and Western New England College each shot under 40% from the field (38.6% and 34.0%, respectively), but both squads were outstanding at the foul line. The Bantams made 21-of-25 attempts (84.0%) while the Golden Bears were 19-of-25 (76.0%).

WNEC held a 42-34 edge in rebounding as Proper pulled down a game high 13 boards.

This also was a homecoming for Trinity coach Wendy Davis who coached the Golden Bears for six seasons before present coach Nicole Chaszar took over in 2005.

Norwich 75, Bay Path 24 - All 11 players scored for the Cadets (2-1) who held the Wildcats to 18.5% shooting from the field.

Sophomore forward Tara Stevenson (Watertown, CT) led the way with 11 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Jess Jaggars (Vergennes, VT) added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman guard Andrea Vogt (Dedham, MA) contributed 10 points coming off the bench.

 Courtesy of WNEC Sports Information.