Salve Regina defeats Eastern Nazarene, 52-37, in CCC action

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior guard Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) scored 20 points as Salve Regina University women's basketball never trailed during its 52-37 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory over visiting Eastern Nazarene College. The Seahawks improve to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in league play with their best defensive effort of the season, holding an opponent under 44 points for the first time in 14 games.

The Lions slip to 4-9 overall and 3-4 in CCC action. Salve Regina also enjoyed its largest margin of victory (+15) among its eight wins.

Harden started the scoring nearly three minutes into the contest with a short pull-up jumper on the near baseline. Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.) sank the first of her two baskets to tie the score momentarily. Harden then had two baskets during a 6-0 run; classmate Madelyn Brackett (Coopersville, Mich.) also had a layup.

Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.) interrupted the run with her driving layup. Mhiah Vickers (Westlake Village, Calif.) added a jumper in the paint.

A 19-8 run helped Salve Regina build its largest first-half lead, 29-14, with just under five minutes remaining in the period. Samantha Frost (Windham, Maine) came off the bench to spark the Seahawks with two 3-pointers. Five other Seahawks also scored their first baskets during the surge including seniors Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.), Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) and freshmen Allyson Esielionis (Shirley, Mass.), Mary Eden (So. Kingstown, R.I.).

The Lions made just one 3-pointer (1-for-13) in the game and that came from Jaysa Cooper (Frisco, Texas) with 1:20 left in the first half.

Vickers scored the first three points of the second half to pull the visitors into a single-digit deficit (32-24), but Jillian Woodward (Orono, Maine) sank a layup to start a 16-7 run for the Seahawks. When Dinan connected on a jumper at 4:24 Salve Regina had its largest lead of the game, 48-31.

The two teams combined for just seven free-throws made in 20 attempts. Salve Regina won the battle of the boards, 47 to 44; Salazar led all players with nine.

Harden, the conference's leading scorer, made nine of 14 shots including one 3-pointer. Vickers led the visitors with 11 points.

Salve Regina stays home on Saturday to host Curry College (1 p.m.); the Colonels suffered their first conference loss of the season, 54-44, tonight to Roger Williams in Milton, Mass. Eastern Nazarene plays at Gordon College on Saturday before returning home on Tuesday.