BOSTON, Mass. – Kaitlyn Bovee's (Berlin, Conn.) 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists led the way as the Roger Williams women's basketball team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 70-40, in Commonwealth Coast Conference play at the Tansey Gymnasium Saturday. The Hawks improve to 10-3 on the season and 5-1 in the CCC while the Leopards drop to 4-8 and 1-5 in the CCC with the loss.
Both teams picked up the pace from the opening tip and traded baskets for the first seven minutes of action. Bovee hit an early three to give her team the lead, but Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) followed with a driving layup to pull Wentworth back within one at 7-6 with 14:17 to play in the half.
At the 12:06 mark, Roger Williams' Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) was fouled on her way to the basket and completed the three-point play to extend the Hawks lead to 11-8. After a Jackie Irwin (Princeton, Mass.) jumper from the right side cut into the Hawks lead, Bovee hit her second three of the half to push the lead back to 19-10 with 7:50 to play.
Back-to-back Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) layups extended the Hawks lead to 23-10 at the 5:44 mark. Roger Williams' pressure frustrated the Leopards throughout the first half and forced eight turnovers that led to seven fast-break points. The Hawks would end the half on a 7-4 run and would take a 35-18 lead into the locker room.
Bovee picked up where she left off and hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to boost the Hawks lead to 40-20 at the 18:23 mark. Wentworth got a pair of Kerr free throws got the Leopards within 18 at the 13:00 mark. But Ariola responded with a corner three to put the Hawks back up 48-27.
Wentworth fought back and went on a 7-3 spurt after a Christine Henry (Tewksbury, Mass.) three to get back within 17 at 51-34, but Roger Williams upped the intensity and finished the game on a 29-6 run to finish off the Black & Gold 70-40.
To go along with Bovee's 23 points, fellow guard Ariola chipped in 14 points, four rebounds and five assists. Freshman forward Quilty came off the bench and scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds. Shannon Cullen (Walpole, Mass.) controlled the rim with three blocks and eight rebounds to go along with her six points.
Kerr was the only Leopard in double-figures with 14 points and six rebounds. Ashley Stowe (Charlestown, R.I.) chipped in six points and three rebounds while Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) added three points, seven boards and three assists. Irwin scored six and pulled down two rebounds off the bench in the losing effort.
Wentworth travels to Western New England on Wednesday the 15th while Roger Williams hosts Salve Regina that same day.
