BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Ashley Conway's (Danvers, Mass.) steal and basket with 1:04 left in regulation snapped a 42-all tie and lifted the Wentworth women's basketball team to its third straight win, a 46-42 win over RIT, in non-conference action played at Tansey Gymnasium.
The host Leopards opened the game by scoring seven of the first nine points and led, 9-4, on a layup from senior Jordan Biggar (Beverly, Mass.), who would score seven of the Black & Gold's first nine points, and after a 3-pointer from Tiger junior Jess Kramer (Fayetteville, N.Y.) cut the lead to 9-7, Wentworth went on an 8-0 run which was capped by a basket from Conway.
After Leopard freshman Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) hit a basket to put Wentworth ahead by a 19-9 score with 10:51 left, RIT outscored the hosts by a 16-2 margin and took a 25-21 lead on a layup from junior Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, N.Y.), who had six points during the stretch. A 3-pointer by Conway cut the lead to one but junior Courtney Tennant's (Cortland, N.Y.) basket with 14 seconds left in the half have the Tigers a 27-24 lead at the break.
RIT scored four of the first six points to open the second half and held a 36-31 lead on a Wheeler basket with 17:02 remaining. After Wentworth cut the lead to two on a pair of occasions, a Tennant 3-pointer give the Tigers a 36-31 lead with 13:40 left.
Wentworth would score the next five points, tying the game on a junior Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) basket with 11:12 left. The game would be tied three more times, including after a Kerr basket made it 42-42 with 3:10 left.
After a missed basket by Kerr, senior Leslie Havens (Wayland, N.Y.) turned the ball over in the backcourt, which was picked up by Conway and laid in to snap the 42-all tie. A missed free throw by the Tigers gave the Leopards the ball back and a free throw each from freshman Megan McLaughlin (Southington, Conn.) and Rogers sealed the win for Wentworth.
Conway finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and three steals while Kerr and Biggar added nine points apiece. Kerr finished with four assists and four steals as well. Rogers had a game-high nine rebounds. Wentworth had a season-high 17 steals for the game.
RIT, which was held to 27 percent shooting in the second half and without a field goal over the final 5:58, was led by Tennant's 11 points and seven rebounds. Wheeler and Havens had 10 and seven points, respectively, which both grabbing seven rebounds. Havens also had five assists and sophomore Brienna McLean (Memphia, Tenn.) had five steals.
Wentworth (7-3) resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday when the Leopards travel to Nichols. RIT (3-6) dropped its second straight and resumes Liberty League play at William Smith on Tuesday.
