BRISTOL, R.I. – Junior Rachel Battista (Johnson, R.I.) converted a three-point play with 23 seconds remaining to give Roger Williams a 56-54 lead as the Hawks battled back from being down seven with six minutes remaining to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 59-55, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action.
With the win the Hawks ran their win streak to five, improving to 8-5 overall and 5-1 in CCC play while the Leopards fall to 3-9 (1-4).
Both teams struggled offensively through the opening portion of the contest, combining for just 13 points through the first 10 minutes of action. Leading by an 8-5 score, Roger Williams scored five of the next seven points to take a 15-7 lead on a layup from sophomore Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.).
After Wentworth freshman Riselly Deoleo (Manchester, N.H.) scored four straight for the Leopards, a pair of Battista 3-pointers helped fuel a 7-1 run and gave the hosts a 22-12 lead with 3:42 to play in the half.
Trailing 24-14 with 2:55 left, the Leopards went on an 8-2 run – with junior Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.) scoring four points form the charity stripe – to cut the lead to 26-22 with 12 ticks remaining. However, the Hawks would score as the half expired when Battista got her own rebound off a missed 3-point attempt and laid it in just before time expired.
Junior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) and Camara combined to score the first six points of the half and tie the game at 28-all. A Rogers layup with 16:56 left extended the run to 8-0 and gave Wentworth a 30-28 lead.
Roger Williams regained the lead with four quick points, however freshman Courtney McCormick (Hanson, Mass.) drained a three to put the Black & Gold on top, 33-30. Leading 36-34, the Leopards used a 9-2 run and took a nine-point lead (45-36) on a Deoleo jumper with 8:41 remaining.
The Hawks scored the next five points – all on free throws – to make it a four-point contest with 6:52 left before a Roger jumper and one of two free throws extended the lead back to seven. However, Roger Williams answered with seven straight points and tied the game at 48-all with 4:30 to play.
Camara hit two free throws to give the lead back to the visitors, however, it would be short lived as sophomore Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.) hit a trifecta to put the hosts on top, 51-50 with 2:47 left. Rogers gave Wentworth the lead with a basket on the next possession, and, after an offensive four, Deoleo hit a layup to make it a 54-51 contest with 1:51 left.
With 32 seconds left, Wentworth couldn't get the ball in, giving it back to Roger Williams. A foul on a 3-point attempt put junior Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) on the line for three shots where she hit the first and third to make it a one-point game.
On the ensuing inbounds play, Wentworth was unable to get the ball in, giving it to the Hawks. Battista drove to the lane and was fouled, giving Roger Williams a 56-54 lead with 23 ticks left.
Wentworth had a chance to tie, however was unable to convert, and, after freshman Tegan Dunn (Burlington, Conn.) hit one of two free throws to make it a 57-54 game, Deoleo was fouled. She hit the first and missed the second in hopes of the Leopards gaining the offensive rebound and tying the game, however Roger Williams got the defensive rebound and sealed the win with two free throws.
Ariola had a team-high 14 points, with 10 of those coming from the line, and four assists in the win. Lowerre and Battista added 13 apiece for the Hawks who also got nine points and nine rebounds from Quilty.
Deoleo had a career-high 17 points for Wentworth while Rogers had 17 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Camara finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and classmate Megan McLaughlin (Southington, Conn.) had six assists. The Leopards held the Hawks to 25 percent shooting from the floor for the game.
Roger Williams is at Curry on Thursday while Wentworth is at Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday.
