Fast start pushes Salve Regina past Wentworth

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.) netted a game-high 15 points to help the Salve Regina University women's basketball team pick up a 69-27 Commonwealth Coast Conference victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology Tuesday night at Tansey Gymnasium.

With the win the Seahawks improve to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in league play while the Leopards dip to 1-6 (0-3).

Salve Regina led wire-to-wire, opening the game on a 14-0 run as part of a 23-10 first quarter lead. Eight of the Seahawks' first 10 points came by way of Scorpio. Wentworth used a 10-2 run to pull within six at 16-10, thanks in part to four points from sophomore Maya Spence (Georgetown, Mass.), but would get no closer in the opening frame.

The Seahawks built their lead to 23 points in the second quarter and led, 41-19, at the break. Salve Regina used a 14-3 third-quarter run to extend its lead, holding Wentworth to just one field goal in the quarter, and built on the lead in the final quarter for the win.

Scorpio finished 5-of-8 from the floor and also had a pair of assists. Senior Ally Esielionis (Shirley, Mass.) had nine points and nine rebounds, junior Tara Burke (Londonderry, N.H.) finished with nine points, while junior Kerri Beland (Attleboro, Mass.) had nine points, five rebounds, and four assists. Salve Regina held Wentworth to 17.2 percent shooting for the game and had a 52-28 rebounding edge.

Sophomore Sam McGibbon (Pembroke, Mass.) led the Leopards with nine points. Freshman Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.) had three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Both teams will hop out of conference action on Saturday, December 9 for their next contest. The Leopards will host Pine Manor College for a 1 p.m. tipoff, while the Seahawks welcome Penn College at 3 p.m.