NEWPORT, R.I. – Sophomore Kerri Beland (Attleboro, Mass.) scored a game-high 16 points the help the Salve Regina University women's basketball team pick up a 59-40 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Wednesday night.
With the win the Seahawks improve to 7-15 overall and 5-10 in CCC play while the Leopards fall to 2-20 (0-15).
The visitors jumped out to a 10-2 start as junior Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) and senior Kellie Messer (Hollis, N.H.) each made jumpers and junior Courtney McCormick (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Sam McGibbon (Pembroke, Mass.) each hit three pointers. Wentworth led by as many as 10 on a pair of occasions, including when McCormick hit a jumper with 2:21 left in the frame, and led, 17-9, at the end of the quarter.
Beland hit a three pointer 1:39 into the second quarter to cut the lead to five, however McCormick answered with a trifecta of her own to push the lead to eight. A 10-0 Salve Regina run gave the Seahawks a 22-20 lead after a senior Jillian Woodward (Orono, Maine) layup. Sophomore Michelle McCloskey (Madison, Conn.) ended a scoring drought of nearly six and a half minutes when her jumper fell with 1:44 remaining in the half. Four straight Salve Regina points broke the tie and gave the hosts a 26-22 lead at the break.
Salve Regina opened the third quarter with five straight points to push the lead to nine (31-22). Back-to-back three pointers from McGibbon closed the gap to three, however Salve Regina answered with a 12-0 run and led, 43-28, after a freshman Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.) layup. A three-point play from Messer ended the run before the Seahawks led, 46-31, after three quarters.
Sophomore Francesca Matira (Ledyard, Conn.) hit a three with 6:34 left in the game to cut the lead to 15 but Salve Regina scored the next five points to up its lead to 20.
In addition to Beland's 16 points, Scorpio added 13 points and five assists. Junior Ally Esielionis (Shirley, Mass.) had five points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks while classmate Mary Eden (South Kingstown, R.I.) had four points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
McGibbon and Messer paced Wentworth with nine points apiece. Messer also had six rebound, two steals, and two blocks, while McGibbon had three assists and three steals. The Leopards were outrebounded by a 49-23 margin.
Wentworth hosts Gordon on Saturday.
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