Phillips posts 23 to lead Seahawks over Lions, 56-43

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University junior forward Erin Phillips [Morristown, N.J.] led all players with 23 points and shared team-high rebound honors with nine boards as the Seahawks defeated Eastern Nazarene College, 56-43, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Trailing 4-1, Phillips converted a layup opportunity to start a 25-7 Seahawk run. A pair of free throws by Olivia Browning [Trumbull, Conn.] put Salve Regina up 26-11 with 8:31 left in the first half.

Freshman center Shardae Brown [Waterbury, Conn.] keyed a mini-comback for the Lions as they cut the lead in half to go into the break down just seven (29-22). When freshman forward Alexis Malloy [Greenbelt, Md.] hit a free throw for the first point of the second half, Eastern Nazarene (8-16; 2-10 TCCC) was as close as it was going to be the rest of the game.

Freshman point guard Kaitlyn Birrell [Hope, R.I.] converted her own steal into a layup the 13:19 mark of the second half and Salve Regina (14-9; 9-3 TCCC) had a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. Salve Regina shot 19-for-51 (37.3 FG%) with all but one of its field goals coming inside the paint.

Sophomore center Lindsay Shorey [Ashland, Mass.] scored 14 points and added nine rebounds while Browning finished with 10 points and nine boards. Brown had a team-high 13 points for Eastern Nazarene while Malloy finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.

Salve Regina finishes its regular-season on the road at Gordon College on Saturday (1 p.m.); a win gives the Seahawks their first home playoff game in three years. Eastern Nazarene failed to qualify for the TCCC postseason and will conclude its season hosting Roger Williams University (1 p.m.); the Hawks need a win to secure the final playoff spot.