Salve Regina defeats Johnson & Wales, 58-49

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University junior guard Erin Phillips [Morristown, N.J.] led all scorers with 21 points as the Seahawks defeated the visiting Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University, 58-49, in non-league women's basketball action in Newport.

As they did in Tuesday's season-opener, the Seahawks built a 13-point first-half lead and let it slip away. A jumper by junior tri-captain Olivia Browning [Trumbull, Conn.] gave Salve Regina a 23-10 advantage with 6:45 remaining in the first frame.

Wildcat freshman guards Marina Millian [Chester, N.Y.] and Allyson Dowen [Burlington, Vt.] and junior guard Morgan Wilson [LaGrangeville, N.J.] sparked a 14-0 run with successive 3-point baskets.

"Ugly, ugly," remarked Seahawk head coach Cori Hughes after the game. "But we got it together at the end when we started doing things we were familiar with. We played better defense in the second half and we slowed things down. We were forcing things where they weren't and it just wasn't working."

Phillips scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, and finished with 10-of-15 from the floor. Salve Regina struggled from the charity stripe, and made just nine of 22 free-throw attempts.

Leading by just three (42-39) with 7:29 left in the second half, Phillips sandwiched a couple of baskets around a jumper in the paint from sophomore center Lindsay Shorey [Ashland, Mass.] to build a nine-point cushion.

"They were doing a matchup, so we tried to mix it up and keep moving," added Hughes. "We reduced our turnovers in the second half because we slowed down and controlled the tempo."

Meanwhile, Salve Regina forced the visitors into 32 turnovers and less than 30 percent shooting from the floor.

Senior forward Alexia Ramirez [San Marcos, Calif.] led Johnson & Wales (0-2) with 12 points, seven coming from the free-throw line. Freshman forward Katurah Andrews [Hartford, Conn.] led all players with 13 rebounds for the Wildcats, who fell to 0-6 all-time versus Salve Regina.

Shorey joined Phillips in double-figure scoring with 15 points while Browning pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for Salve Regina (1-1).

It was Browning who was recognized before the game with finding the newest Seahawk as Salve Regina "adopted" Victoria Powell of Middletown, R.I., a 10-year-old with a brain tumor participating in the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.

Salve Regina returns to the hardwood for another non-league contest on Tuesday at TCCC foe Roger Williams; Johnson & Wales plays at Coast Guard on Saturday.