Salve Regina Defeats Wentworth, 65-52

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore forward Lindsay Shorey (Ashland, Mass.) scored a game-high 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots while junior forward Erin Phillips scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and had four assists as the Salve Regina women's basketball team defeated Wentworth, 65-52, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.

With the score knotted at 4-all in the early stages, the host Leopards used a 9-2 run over a span of 2:51 to take their largest lead of the game, 13-6, when junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) hit a pair of free throws.  During the run, senior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass.) had five points for Wentworth.

The Seahawks bounced right back and used a 15-1 run over the next seven minutes to turn a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 21-14.  Freshman guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) had five points during the run.  Vallone would score the next four points to cut the lead to three with 5:22 remaining but a 12-2 Salve run to close out the half upped the lead to 33-20.  The Seahawks held the Leopards to just 22.9 percent (8-for-35) from the floor.

Wentworth opened the second half on a 9-2 run, capped off by a three pointer from freshman guard Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.) to trim the lead to six and would trail by seven (54-47) with 6:05 remaining.  However, a 7-2 spurt brought the lead back to double digits with 2:26 to play and the Seahawks went on to take the 13-point win.

Birrell, who finished with seven points, dished out 11 assists and Salve's defense scored 18 points off of 18 Leopard turnovers.  Vallone had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks for the Leopards, while Fauci added 10 points, six assists, and four steals.

With the win, Salve Regina runs its win streak to three and improves to 10-7 overall and 5-1 in TCCC play.  Wentworth drops its second straight to stand at 8-10 (4-2).  Both teams will be in action on Saturday with conference games on their respective campuses.  Salve Regina hosts New England College while Wentworth hosts Regis.