Second half gets away from Seahawks

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's basketball team will end 2013 undefeated in Commonwealth Coast Conference play, as the Hawks earned a 71-54 win over Salve Regina University Saturday afternoon.

The win avenges last season's loss to the Seahawks in the CCC Tournament. Salve Regina eliminated the Hawks in the CCC Semifinals and went on to the conference finals after two regular-season losses to the Hawks.

Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) opened the game with a layup to give Salve the early lead before the Hawks rolled off an 8-0 run to go up by six. The Hawks would take its largest lead of the half on a bucket in the paint by Shannon Cullen (Peabody, Mass.) at the 9:27 mark, putting RWU up 19-10.

Roger Williams continued to hold on to the lead before Kelsey Kennedy (Medford, N.J.) capped off a 12-1 run with a three-pointer to give Salve Regina the lead back. The Seahawks would end up taking a one-point advantage (28-27) going into halftime.

In the second half, both teams traded baskets early, as neither squad could pull away. The contest remained a one-possession game in either direction for the first ten minutes of the period.

The Hawk defense began to take of halfway through the period, as RWU held the Seahawks to only five points over a ten-minute stretch. Over that point, Roger Williams extended its slim one-point advantage to 17 (58-47) with 3:43 to play. RWU held Salve to 2-of-9 shooting over the run while forcing four Salve turnovers.

Four Hawks scored in double digits, including Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) who finished with a double-double (16 pts., 10 reb.). Ari Renwick also scored 16 with three assists. Cullen added 11 points and two blocks, while Amanda Keane (Wilmington, Conn.) notched 12 points and seven boards off the bench.

Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) led all scorers with 17 points to go along with six rebounds. Harded finished with 16 points and four assists, while Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) went for seven points and seven boards.

Roger Williams (7-1, 2-0 CCC) won't play again until the New Year, as the Hawks will be back in action at Wheaton on January 2. Salve Regina (3-3, 1-1 CCC) plays at Rhode Island College on Tuesday in its final game of the semester.