PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Grace Jaffray led four student-athletes in double figures with 17 points as the top-seeded JWU (Providence) women's basketball team advanced to the Conference of New England (CNE) Championship with a 66-46 win over No. 4 Hartford Friday night at the Wildcat Center.

Sophomore Brianne Foley, meanwhile, dropped in 15 points and snared a season-high 15 rebounds as the Wildcats held the Hawks to 27 percent shooting and outrebounded them 43-34 to push their record to 22-4. They will host the conference championship game Sunday at 1 p.m. against No. 3 Western New England, who upset No. 2 Endicott 66-61 in Beverly, Massachusetts.
 
Freshman Tahlia Peña scored 16 off the bench for head coach Dino Porcic's squad while sophomore Isabella Suero finished with 12 points.

The Wildcats held Hartford without a point through the first 7:35 of the contest and led 16-4 after one behind eight from Jaffray. The Blue Hill, Maine native added seven more in the second as JWU extended its lead to 35-21 at halftime. The home team canned 56 percent of its shots through the opening 20 while the Hawks shot 6-of-29 (20.7 pct.).

The Hawks offensive woes continues into the third as they made just five of their 17 attempts (29 pct.) and trailed by 17 after three (49-32). Peña went to work in the fourth as she connected on 5-of-6 from the charity stripe and scored a total of nine in the frame.

JWU closed the night at 45 percent shooting (24-of-53).