Hawks drop Seahawks from postseason

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BRISTOL, R.I. (February 25, 2020) – The second-seeded Roger Williams University women's basketball team advanced to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals after rolling past the seventh-seeded Salve Regina University 65-47 Tuesday evening in the CCC Quarterfinals.

Hawk Highlights

• Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.): 12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 blocks, 1 steals
• Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.): 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
• Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.): 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals
• Sophie Araneo (Branford, Conn.): 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist

Seahawk Standouts

• Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.): 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
• Lauryn Becker (Hanover, Mass.): 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
• Megan Henaghan (Whitman, Mass.): 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 blocks
• Olivia Valerio (Proctor, Vt.): 6 points, 4 rebounds

How It Happened

Roger Williams got out to an early 7-0 lead, forcing turnovers on the first three Salve Regina possessions and holding Salve Regina to only one shot over the first 2:30 of the game. RWU would build that lead to 13-4, and then eventually to 20-8 with two minutes left in the quarter. After a Seahawk timeout, RWU put on a press that led to back-to-back steals by Nikki Rosa (Nahant, Mass.) as part of three consecutive Salve turnovers. The Seahawks were overall held scoreless in the final four minutes as RWU took a 29-8 lead after the first.

Salve Regina's offense would pick up early in the second quarter, as the Seahawks connected on their first four shots, with Torie Scorpio scoring or assisting on all four baskets. Unfortunately for Salve Regina, the Seahawks would finish the quarter 1-for-8 from the field and trail 42-21 at the half.

Both teams struggled shooting in the third, with RWU shooting 25.0 percent (3-for-12) and Salve shooting 37.5 percent (6-for-16). However, Roger Williams would hold on to its large lead, going into the fourth up 55-30.

Salve Regina made a run early in the fourth quarter, holding Roger Williams scoreless over the first six minutes the quarter. The Seahawks would pull to within 16 with 4:34 to play, but clutch threes from Leone and Sophie Araneo stalled the Salve Regina run, helping push Roger Williams to the CCC Semifinals.

What's Next
Roger Williams (17-9) advances to host third-seeded Endicott on Thursday (6 p.m.); Salve Regina (4-22) ends its season.