BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.) scored 15 of her game-high 23 points in the second half to help pace the Salve Regina University women's basketball team to a 53-44 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Seahawks improve to 4-11 overall and 2-6 in CCC play while the Leopards slip to 2-13 (0-8 CCC).
Salve Regina held Wentworth without a field goal for the first 5:31 of the opening quarter, however would only build a four-point lead on a jumper from junior Ally Esielionis (Shirley, Mass.). A free throw and the Leopards' first field goal from junior Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) cut the lead to one, however the Seahawks would lead by four on two other occasions, including when Scorpio hit two free throws with six seconds left to give the visitors a 12-8 lead after the first quarter.
Wentworth opened the second half on a 6-0 run which was capped off by a layup from sophomore Baylor Johnson (Greer, S.C.) which gave the Black & Gold a 14-12 lead with 6:17 left in the half. However, Salve Regina answered with an 8-0 run and took a 20-14 lead after a three pointer from sophomore Brynn Pasternak (Somerset, Mass.). The Leopards clawed back and would tie the game at 22-all on a layup from Sabino but Scorpio beat the buzzer to give the Seahawks a 24-22 lead at the half.
Salve Regina built a six-point lead midway through the third quarter and extended its lead to 10 on an Eisielonis three pointer with 1:36 remaining. On Wentworth's next possession junior Courtney McCormick (Hanson, Mass.) countered with a three, narrowing the lead to seven (39-32).
The Seahawks led by as many as 11 on a pair of occasions in the fourth quarter – both times after Scorpio baskets. With Salve Regina leading 47-36 with just under four minutes left, Wentworth used a 6-1 spurt to get back in the game and trailed by six (48-42) with 2:13 left after a McCormick basket. After Scorpio hit two free throws, McCormick connected on a layup to make it 50-44 with 19 seconds left, however, Scorpio sealed the win with two more free throws.
In addition to Scorpio's 23 points, senior Jillian Woodward (Orono, Maine) had nine points and 12 rebounds while sophomore Kerri Beland (Attleboro, Mass.) scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
McCormick led the Leopards with 11 points while Johnson added eight and Sabino and senior Kellie Messer (Hollis, N.H.) has seven apiece.
Both teams are in action on Tuesday as Wentworth is at Gordon and Salve Regina is at Nichols.
