Seahawks earn spot in NEWMAC postseason despite loss to Engineers

NEWPORT, R.I. (Saturday, February 17, 2024) -- Salve Regina University women's basketball rallied back from a double-digit deficit in the third quarter before ultimately falling to the Engineers of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 89-73, in the final game of the NEWMAC regular season at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. Seahawk seniors - Amanda Folan (North Attleboro, Mass.), Olivia Martin (Hansen, Mass.), Briana Neary (Wayne, N.J.) - were celebrated in pre-game ceremonies; all three are planning to return for their fifth years next season.

Salve Regina (10-15, 4-7 NEWMAC) cut a 15-point halftime deficit to three (60-57) with 2:16 left in the third following free throws from freshman Deanna Linscott (Pembroke, Mass.). MIT (18-7, 9-2 NEWMAC) finished the quarter with the last five points as Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) answered with a 3-pointer on a second-chance opportunity and Christina Antonakakis (Holmdel, N.J.) drained her free throws.

The Engineers, who finished third in the final league standings behind Smith and Springfield (both 10-1), opened up their largest lead at 85-62 with a 20-5 run in the first five minutes of the final period. With Springfield College holding on to defeat Emerson College in Boston, 73-71, the Pride not only clinched the top seed but they also eliminated the Lions who finished with an identical 4-7 mark in league play as Salve Regina. The Seahawks advance to the postseason by virtue of their 92-87 victory over the Lions last month.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: MIT 89, Salve Regina 73
Records: Salve Regina (10-15, 4-7 NEWMAC), MIT (18-7, 9-2 NEWMAC)
All-Time Series: Meeting for the first time since 2003 (and first as fellow NEWMAC members), MIT earns its third victory in the series. Salve Regina leads the all-time series, 5-3.

SUMMARY

• 1Q - Amanda Folan, Olivia Martin, and Briana Neary earned their Senior Day start with graduate student Morgan Shuey and sophomore Sofia Neary on the floor as well. Folan was limited to one minute to rest an inury. Junior Ashley Rourke, who started the first 24 games, subbed in and had a go-ahead basket for the Seahawks (10-9) at 4:33 on a fast-break, driving layup. Martin had the next basket on a layup before the teams went back-and-forth to 18-18 into the final minute on a Martin jumper. Kaya Weiser finished the quarter with a 3-pointer. | ENGINEERS 21, SEAHAWKS 18
• 2Q - Marissa Forino tied the score (30-30) for the last time at 4:47 with her jumper. Kamsi Nwogu made a free throw for her ninth point of the half before Angie Choi hit a 3-pointer that rolled into a 17-2 run for the Engineers to finish the period. | ENGINEERS 47, SEAHAWKS 32
• 3Q - Olivia Martin opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer. Briana Neary's offensive rebound and put back layup brought the deficit into single digits before Elise Harvey sank a triple. Salve Regina went on an 11-3 run with two key baskets from Ashley Rourke. After free throws from Seahawk freshman Deanna Linscott, MIT finished the quarter with the last five points as Angie Choi answered with a 3-pointer on a second-chance opportunity and Christina Antonakakis drained her free throws. | ENGINEERS 65, SEAHAWKS 57
• 4Q - The Engineers opened up their largest lead at 85-62 with a 20-5 run in the first five minutes of the final period. Three different MIT players had six points in the period - Kamsi Nwogu, Angie Choi, Rachael Zacks - while Briana Neary had six of her own for Salve Regina. | ENGINEERS 89, SEAHAWKS 73

NOTEWORTHY

• Salve Regina earns the final spot in the eight-team postseason by virtue of its head-to-head victory over Emerson (92-87 on January 24); both teams finished with 4-7 marks in the league.
• The Lions nearly spoiled Springfield's bid for the top spot - falling 73-71 - after outscoring the Pride in the fourth quarter (26-13) in their home loss this afternoon. Springfield defeated Smith to earn the head-to-head tiebreak.
• Briana Neary led the Seahawks with 21 points on 7-of-13 from the floor and seven free throws.
• Sophomore Sofia Neary had her 12th double-double of the season while finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds and 10 points.
• Ashley Rourke came off the bench in the first minute for injured senior Amanda Folan, and the junior finished with 14 points.
• Angie Choi led all players with 30 points while Christina Antonakakis finished with 19 points; both Engineers were 5-of-11 from behind the arc.
• Morgan Shuey had a game-high six assists.
• Engineers made two more field goals (29-27) while the Seahawks made two more free throws (17-15).
• The biggest difference in points came from behind the arc -- MIT made 16-of-33 (48.5%) from long range while Salve Regina only had two of 16 go in (12.5%).

NEXT UP
Salve Regina earns the No. 8 Seed in the NEWMAC postseason and travels to No. 1 Springfield College for a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, February 21.