DANBURY, Conn. - Senior Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) had 24 points and six rebounds to lead the Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a 90-41 win over the visiting City College of New York Beavers in Hat City Classic Women's Basketball action this afternoon at Feldman Arena.  WestConn improves to 4-8 with its third victory in a row and goes 2-0 in the Classic with its win on Thursday over the Alfred University Saxons.  CCNY drops to 1-6 and will face Alfred in the final game of the three-day, three-team event tomorrow at 1 p.m.  The Wolves will return to action in 2024 when they host Little East Conference (LEC) rival Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday, January 3 at 5 p.m.  

WestConn started slowly with a 36.4 shooting percentage in the first quarter but held a 17-13 lead at the first break.  The Wolves dominated the second frame, however, making 12 of 17 shots from the field and holding the Beavers to one field goal in 12 tries to take a 44-20 lead at halftime.  WestConn continued to control the game in the second half, allowing just six Beaver field goals after intermission and making 20 of its 39 shots from the floor in the final 20 minutes.  The Wolves were stellar on the inside, outrebounding CCNY, 53-30, and blocking10 shots.

Franks made 12 of 19 shots from the field and added three assists and a block, while junior F/C Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) added 18 points, six rebounds, five, assists, and three blocks, and junior C Tyonna Morgan (West Haven, Conn.) contributed nine points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks off the WestConn bench.  Senior guard Nicole Peralta (North Windham, Conn.) scored 12 points and classmate Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.) registered six points, a game-high 12 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks for the Wolves.  Anais Rose paced CCNY with 22 points, Kasia Morrison scored 11 points, and Eyoni Mayes grabbed eight rebounds.  Franks and Peralta both represent WestConn on the Hat City All-Tournament Team, which will be announced in full after tomorrow's action.