Phillips, Pendergast, Birrell key Seahawk victory

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University women's basketball improved to 2-0 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference with a 66-60 win over visiting Regis College today at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Seahawk senior forward Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) led all scorers and equaled her season-high with 27 points. Pride junior guard Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) nearly matched her with a 24-point effort.

Salve Regina (10-3; 2-0 TCCC) held the edge on the boards (42-35), led by freshman forward Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) who posted season highs in rebounds (13) and points (16) for her first career double-double.

The first half featured six ties and four lead changes. Freshman guard Lauren Kimble (Concord, Calif.) gave Regis its largest lead (9-4) with a 3-pointer with 15:30 remaining in the first half. With the game tied at 24-all, Salve Regina finished the first half on a 6-0 run including two baskets by point guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.).

Freshman forward Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) led Regis (6-7; 0-2 TCCC) on a 9-0 run to start the second half with a pair of layups. With Salve Regina trailing by one (37-36; 10:29 in second half), Pendergast grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul. Her free throws gave the Seahawks the lead for good after the eighth and final tie.

The Seahawks built their largest lead to 11 points (62-51) with 31 seconds left in the game, but Alex Chace (Easton, Mass.) and Crawford both hit 3-pointers in the final 22 seconds to close the gap. The victory was Salve Regina's 17th straight against Regis as the Seahawks own a 28-17 edge in the series; the last Pride victory came in 1999.

Salve Regina has won five straight and will host defending conference champion University of New England on Saturday (1 p.m.); the Nor'easters knocked the Seahawks out of the TCCC championships in the semifinal round last year. Regis, which tied for first in the regular season last year, returns home to host Curry on Saturday.