BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's basketball team handed Wentworth a 58-47 defeat in its first contest of the New Year, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Thursday evening inside the Campus Rec Center.
Wentworth was off to a hot start in the opening quarter, led by nine points from junior Sam McGibbon (Pembroke, Mass.), who had her fourth straight performance of 50% or better from three-point range. All of McGibbon's points came from behind the arc, giving Wentworth a 16-12 lead after the first ten minutes.
The Leopards were plagued by a 19-2 run in the second quarter from 50% shooting from all spots on the floor from Roger Williams. Junior Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.) paced the Hawks in the frame with seven points, while the hosts held a 13-5 advantage on the boards, including four from freshman Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.). Sophomore Molley Duclos (Greenfield, Mass.) netted Wentworth's only basket of the quarter, as the Hawks held a commanding 31-18 lead heading into the halftime break.
Down but not out, the Leopards clawed back and again outscored the hosts in the third quarter, this time by a 19-17 margin. Wentworth closed the third quarter on a 12-8 run, capped by a long-range bucket from junior Maya Spence (Georgetown, Mass.) to cut the lead to 48-37 with one final quarter to play. Both teams battled in the final ten minutes, each scoring 10 points each, to keep Roger Williams' 11-point lead for the 58-47 victory.
Duclos tied her season-high with a team-best 10 points, while McGibbon and sophomore Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.) each scored nine points. Sophomore Erin Morton (Norway, Maine) chipped in with eight points, while McCloskley added eight of her own and led the Leopards on the boards with seven rebounds.
Three Hawks reached double figures on the scoreboard, including two double-double performances from junior Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.) (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Opalka (13 points, 12 rebounds). Jerahian led all players on the court with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the floor.
Wentworth (1-11) resumes conference action on the road on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tip-off at Salve.
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