Posted: Dec 13, 2013

Salve Regina brings home first title in Hawks-Seahawks charity match

Eight was enough (l-r): Gerard Grant, Colin Sullivan, Jessica DePolito, Tyler Hundley, Ashley Cerniglia, Ed Habershaw, David Cox, and Rob Shedlosky.

BRISTOL, R.I. - Entering the Roger Williams University recreation center gymnasium for the first time under "friendly competition" conditions, Salve Regina University pulled off a 47-46 victory in a basketball game between the two athletic staffs to benefit the Hawks for Kids program and Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Last night's event started a bi-annual series with each school hosting once in either the fall or spring semester.

Two early 3-pointers from Roger Williams' head wrestling coach, Jon Egan, ingited the partisan crowd and gave the home team a comfortable lead it maintained the entire first half. The Hawks also had 3-pointers from their athletics communications director, Nicholas Williams, and their swimming coaches, Matt Emmert and Colin Fisher.

Salve Regina men's basketball assistant, Tyler Hundley, put the Seahawks on the board with an offensive putback. He added another layup before Seahawk head athletic trainer, David Cox, got a 3-pointer to go down.

After a Salve Regina timeout at 6:30 in the first half, a 3-pointer (off the backboard) from Roger Williams assistant men's basketball coach, Dan Weidmann, gave the Hawks their largest lead (25-12).

Salve Regina continued to chip away in the first half. Following an alley-oop pass from sports information director, Ed Habershaw, to Hundley in the final minute, Hundley got to the free throw line when he was fouled at the buzzer. His two from the charity stripe made it a 10-point game (29-19) at the break.

The Seahawks won the battle of the boards in the second half with director of athletics, Colin Sullivan, and assistant football coach, Rob Shedlosky, getting the work done at both ends of the floor. Assistant women's basketball coach, Ashley Cerniglia, and head women's soccer and softball coach, Jessica DePolito, provided great movement on offense for the Seahawks.

Administrative assistant, Gerard Grant, became a second-half sensation while combining with Hundley to score all but one of the 28 points in the period for Salve Regina. Hundley's two free throws cut the margin to 42-40 with 3:02 left in the game.

Roger Williams turned the ball over on its next possession which led to a Hundley go-ahead 3-pointer, off a feed from Sullivan, at 2:26. Sullivan had a steal on the next Hawk possession and then Hundley converted two more free throws for a 45-42 Salve Regina advantage.

Following a Hawk timeout, Fisher made it a one-point game with a runner in the lane. Assistant men's basketball coach, Travis O'Dell, put the Hawks back on top with his two free throws with 35 seconds remaining.

Grant and Hundley each made one of two free throws in the final 10 seconds to put the final points on the board, 47-46. Hundley grabbed the rebound off Grant's final free-throw attempt and was immediately fouled by O'Dell with the score tied at 46-46.

O'Dell managed a final layup attempt before the buzzer but was denied by pressure from Shedlosky and Grant.

"It was a fun competition with winners on both sides," said Sullivan, in his sixth year as Salve Regina director of athletics. "We had the winning score and Roger Williams' Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) had a successful fundraiser for its Hawks for Kids initiative."

Salve Regina SAAC representatives Kelly Scafariello (associate athletic director), Jen Chieco (cross country), Gina Tortorici (lacrosse), and Matthew Keyzer (football) played key roles for the winning basketball team. Salve Regina equipment manager and women's track & field head coach Matthew Hird also came to support the Seahawks who will host next semester at the Rodgers Recreation Center.