Jillian Woodward (Photo by: Brooke Scoca)
Jillian Woodward (Photo by: Brooke Scoca)

Seahawks survive Scots in 2OT

WENHAM, Mass.—After being held scoreless in the first half, junior Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) scored 15 points in the second half and overtime periods to lead Salve Regina to a comeback win, 68-64, in two overtimes. Harden scored the game-tying bucket as time expired in the first overtime and Salve outlasted host Gordon during the final five minutes. The Fighting Scots continue to fight well with the CCC elite, but fall to 2-11 on the season, while the Seahawks improve to 7-6.

Gordon's defensive focus was clear from the very beginning: limit Commonwealth Coast Conference leading scorer Harden as much as possible. For the first 20 minutes the Fighting Scots' stingy defense managed to do exactly that, but the Seahawks found scoring from other places.

Center Jillian Woodward (Orono, Maine) had a stellar game for Salve Regina, including a team-high seven points in the first half. Gordon counterpunched with freshman forward Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.), who poured in eight first-half points to lead all players.

Gordon led the Seahawks late in the half, 18-17, but a 7-2 run by Salve Regina closed the period with the Scots trailing 24-20.

The Seahawks retained control early in the second half, eventually going up 42-30 at the 12-minute mark in the period. Harden scored seven consecutive points during the streak to put the Scots in their largest hole of the game.

Mariel Barner (Colorado Springs, Colo.) kick-started a 12-0 run in favor of the Fighting Scots that lasted six minutes of gameplay. With Salve leading 47-42 late in the game Sophie Linnell (Richmond, Va.) capped off an outstanding second-half by making two free throws before Barner drained a wide open three to send the game to overtime.

The two teams went back and forth in the first overtime period, but Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) put the Scots ahead 58-55 with 21 ticks on the clock. Woodward made a quick layup after gathering an offensive rebound and Harden fouled Barner with nine seconds to play. Barner made the front end of the free-throw routine, but missed the second giving the Seahawks a final breathe. Woodward tossed a long outlet pass to Harden, who spun around a Gordon defender to lay in the tying basket as time expired.

In the second overtime, Gordon held a two-point lead with two minutes to go thanks to an Olivia Vetere (Mahopac, N.Y.) layup. Salve responded with six consecutive points to end the game with a 68-64 advantage and send the Fighting Scots to their 10th straight loss.

Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) and Harden led the Seahawks with 15 points each. Woodward chipped in a double-double with 14 and 10 boards. Dinan also added three steals and three assists while controlling the Salve offense.

Smith led all scorers with 17 points with two made threes and six rebounds. After a quiet first half, Kratche rebounded with 13 total points and a game-high four steals. Vetere and Barner both finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points apiece. Linnell notched another double-double with 10 points and rebounds.

Salve Regina returns to Newport for a Wednesday matchup with Eastern Nazarene at 5:30 p.m. Gordon goes back on the road to top CCC team UNE on Wednesday as well, for a 5:30 p.m. tip.