Harden's 26 nearly half the team total

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's basketball team defeated Salve Regina University for the second time this season, edging the Seahawks 56-53 Saturday afternoon.

The Seahawks scored first on a free throw by Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.), but the Hawks answered quickly with an 8-2 run, capped by a layup from Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.).

Salve Regina pulled back in the game, with Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) tying the game at 10 on a layup with 11:26 left in the first period and giving them the12-10 lead two minute later.

The Seahawks continue to hold on to the lead of Roger Williams, until Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.) fed the ball to Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) who buried a three-pointer to tie the game back up at 15.

With 3:20 left in first period Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) sinks a three-pointer to give Salve a slim 20-19 lead, but the Hawks managed to close the half on a 9-0 run to take the 28-20 lead into halftime.

The Seahawks begin the second half with a basket by Allyson Esielionis (Shirley, Mass.), but Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) answered quickly with a layup to keep the Hawk lead at eight. Alyssa Otis (Torrington, Conn.) hooked in a layup with 14:27 to play to put RWU up by ten, the team's largest of the game.

Salve Regina continued to fight throughout the early part of the half, but could not come closer than four for most of the period. The Seahawks' best opportunity to come back came with 2:42 remaining. Jillian Woodward (Orono, Maine) drained a three-pointer to bring the Salve within one point (45-46). However, Ariola answered with a trey of her own to build the lead back up to four.

The Hawks held on for the win, despite Salve putting a late scare into RWU. Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) would be fouled on a three-point attempt with 2.8 seconds left. She sank all three freebies to bring them back within one. However, Mariah Nicholas (Acushnet, Mass.) knocked down both her free throw attempts to build the lead back to three, forcing a desperation heave for the Seahawks at the buzzer that fell short.

Ariola led the Hawks with 13 points and four assists. Nicholas went for 12 points and three rebounds off the bench. Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) had eight points and nine rebounds along with a career-high six blocks.

Harden led the Seahawks with 26 points along with five rebounds, while Dinan went for 13 points and nine rebounds. Del Valle added three points, six boards, and four assists.

On Wednesday, Roger Williams (11-6, 8-2 CCC) faces Western New England at home, while Salve Regina (10-7, 7-3 CCC) welcomes Nichols College.