PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Grace Jaffray poured in a game-high 30 points and freshman Tahlia Peña added 18 off the bench to send the top-seeded JWU (Providence) women's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament with a 77-66 win over Western New England University in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championship Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Center.

Jaffray – who scored 26 in the first half en route to earning Most Outstanding Player honors – also collected seven boards and four steals while senior Mikayla Caruso pulled down nine boards to go with four points and four blocks for the Wildcats, who stretched their win streak to 14 and captured their first conference crown since the 2015-16 campaign.

Sophomore Brianne Foley notched 13 points – 11 of which came in the second half – and grabbed six boards. Peña, meanwhile, scored 14 of her 18 in the fourth quarter in 28 minutes of action. JWU knocked down 46 percent of its shots and outrebounded the Golden Bears 37-32.

Jaffray was nearly unstoppable in the first half as she canned four triples and finished 9-of-13 from the field to help the Wildcats build a 32-25 halftime lead. The Golden Bears climbed to within one twice late in the third before a 7-0 run to start the fourth by JWU pushed its lead back to 11 at 54-43.

The Wildcats lead grew to as many as 15 midway through the fourth courtesy of a three-point play from Peña and never fell below nine until the final minute of regulation. Western New England finished the contest at 34.9 pct. shooting – including 1-of-10 from downtown.

The NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament field of 64 will be announced Monday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.