Birrell, Phillips help Salve Regina knock off Emerson, 71-52

NEWPORT, R.I. - Running its win streak to nine games, Salve Regina University women's basketball defeated visiting Emerson College 71-52 in the last non-league contest of the regular season for both teams. Salve Regina (14-3) led from start to finish.

The Seahawks scored the first six points of the game on baskets by Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.), Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.), and Victoria Audet (Broad Brook, Conn.). Phillips' fourth basket of the game, all layups, gave the Seahawks their first double-digit lead (14-4) with 14:00 left in the first half.

After Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) scored on a layup to boost the lead to 13 (20-7), Emerson freshman guard Elissa Chojnicki (Dover, N.H.) drained a 3-pointer and sophomore forward Olivia DiNucci (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed with a layup to get the difference back in single digits (20-12). Chojnicki later converted an old-fashioned three-point play to narrow the gap to five (22-17) with 8:13 remaining.

Six different Seahawks contributed to the scoring during a 14-2 run before the end of the half which closed with a layup from Lions senior guard Kathy Andrade (Hull, Mass.).

Salve Regina senior guard Kim Horan (Webster, Mass.) opened the scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer from the corner right in front of her bench. Horan added another 3-pointer and a layup after Phillips had converted her own three-point play during a 16-10 run for the Seahawks.

The majority of the Seahawk scoring came from inside where Salve Regina outscored the visitors in the paint, 50-22. Emerson (5-12) was led by Chojnicki who finished with 15 points.

Birrell (13 points) and Phillips (12 points) paced Salve Regina which also got 10 points from junior forward Lindsay Shorey (Ashland, Mass.) in 11 minutes of action. The Seahawks caused 29 turnovers and recorded 21 steals, led by Audet who snared a career-high eight thefts.

Salve Regina hosts Wentworth Institute of Technology on Thursday (6 p.m.) in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest while Emerson returns to Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Pine Manor College.