DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves opened 2024 with a 76-47 setback against the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in Little East Conference (LEC) women's basketball action this evening at Feldman Arena.  WestConn falls to 4-9 overall and 0-4 in the Little East with its first loss in four games.  Eastern Connecticut improves to 4-8 overall and 2-2 in the league.  Senior center Gabrielle Franks (Madison, Conn.) led the Wolves with 11 points.  WestConn visits Little East rival Southern Maine next on Saturday at 1 p.m.  Eastern Connecticut plays at Wheaton College on Saturday at the same time.

WestConn fell victim to a poor shooting night, managing just five field goals in 37 attempts in the first half and finding themselves down, 35-15, at the break.  Senior guard Nicole Peralta (North Windham, Conn.) knocked down two early treys for the Wolves in the first quarter but the home team did not have another field goal until inside the final minute of the first quarter.  Senior captain guard Nicole Vivian (New Milford, Conn.) scored the only two field goals of the second stanza for WestConn.  The Wolves fought hard in the third quarter and trailed, 45-30, on a Franks layup with 4:21 on the clock, but the Warriors scored the next 11 points and pulled away from there. 

Peralta finished with nine points, while junior center Tyonna Morgan (West Haven, Conn.) had eight points and four rebounds off the bench for Western Connecticut. Vivian and junior forward Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) tied for the Wolves lead in rebounds with five apiece, and Franks added three blocks and four boards to her 11 points.  Eastern Connecticut shot 57.1 percent from the floor (32-56) and outrebounded the Wolves, 47-32.  Taylor Saloto had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Nevaeh Clark contributed 16 points and seven boards for the Warriors.