Pride pushes back after trailing Seahawks for most of the game

NEWPORT, R.I. (Wednesday, February 7, 2024) -- Salve Regina University led for more than three quarters of its game with Springfield College, but the Pride roared back with a 36-10 final 10 minutes to win 75-59 in NEWMAC women's basketball action on Wednesday night at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Seahawks (10-12, 4-4 NEWMAC) led by three (15-12) after the first quarter, increased the advantage to 10 by halftime (34-24), and maintained that margin through the first 10 minutes of the second half (49-39). Sophomore guard Amanda Leary (Westbury, N.Y.) spearheaded the Pride (18-4, 7-1 NEWMAC) with 17 of her game-high 28 points in the final quarter.

Salve Regina sophomore Sofia Neary (Wayne, N.J.) led her team with a double-double (17 points, game-high 12 rebounds).

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Springfield 75, Salve Regina 59
Records: Salve Regina (10-12, 4-4 NEWMAC), Springfield (18-4, 7-1 NEWMAC)
All-Time Series: Springfield takes a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with all three meetings since November 2000. On a neutral court in Willimantic, Conn., Springfield won 65-54. In the Naismith Classic in January 2009, the Seahawks defeated the Pride, 50-46.

SUMMARY

• 1Q - Lindsay Laughlan scored the first two buckets for Springfield who led 6-1 before Sofia Neary had Salve Regina's first two field goals. Ashley Rourke's free throws gave the Seahawks their first lead. Amanda Folan's 3-pointer at 2:37 started an 8-2 for the Seahawks to finish the period. Claire Finney grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul to sink a pair of free throws. | Salve Regina 15, Springfield 12
• 2Q - Kassidy Carrano tied the score with a triple to open the period. The Seahawks went on a 15-3 run beginning with an Ashley Rourke jumper. Amanda Folan hit another trey and Briana Neary made three straight field goals. Morgan Shuey had a jump shot for the first double-digit lead (28-18) at 5:32. Sofia Neary followed with a layup. Shuey had seven of her nine assists in the first half. | Salve Regina 34, Springfield 24
• 3Q - Briana Neary gave the Seahawks their largest lead (37-24) with her old-fashioned three-point play to begin the second half. The Seahawks had that same 13-point advantage after Marissa Forino's pull up jump shot at 4:49 (42-29). Sofia Neary and Amanda Leary both scored six points in the period. | Salve Regina 49, Springfield 39
• 4Q - Trailing by 10 points, Amanda Leary's 3-pointer opened the period with a 12-0 run for the Pride. Morgan Shuey's layup interrupted the run before a Leary layup preceded Natalie Lucas and Rachel Vinton scoring after turnovers. Another 8-0 run started with a Claire Finney trey. Springfield made 62.5% from the field (15-of-24). Salve Regina actually shot more accurately than that, 71.4% (5-of-7), but turned it over a dozen times with the Pride earning 11 steals. | Springfield 75, Salve Regina 49

NOTEWORTHY

• Sofia Neary led the Seahawks with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, her fourth consecutive double-double and 11th of the season.
• Briana Neary was the only other Seahawk in double figures as she finished with 11 points.
• Salve Regina committed 26 turnovers, 20 coming in the second half, a dozen in the final quarter.
• Both teams made 75 percent or more of their free throws -- Springfield (75.0%; 12 of 16), Salve Regina (76.9%; 10 of 13).
• Springfield scored 30 points off turnovers, 17 of those in the fourth quarter.
• Leary nearly had a triple-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
• Morgan Shuey dished nine assists for the Seahawks.
• The Pride was combined 0-for-7 from three-point range in the first and third quarters; the other two, Springfield made 7-of-12 from long range.
• Angela Czeremcha also had a double-double for Springfield (12 points, 10 rebounds).

NEXT UP
Salve Regina hits the road for the next two games, at Clark University on Saturday (1 p.m.), and at United States Coast Guard Academy next Wednesday (6 p.m.).