Women's Basketball Dominates First Half; Falls to Late Comeback at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. – Despite a strong first half performance and a new career-high from sophomore Molley Duclos (Greenfield, Mass.) the Wentworth women's basketball team fell to a late comeback from Salve Regina, 62-53, on Saturday afternoon inside Rogers Recreation Center.

As the scoreboard read 10-10 with 3:31 to go in the first quarter – led by six points from Duclos - the Leopards turned a 10-2 run to lead the hosts 20-12 after ten minutes of play. Wentworth shot 46.7% from the floor in the frame, and 50% from both long-range and from the free throw line. The Leopards rode momentum into the second quarter, again holding Salve to 12 points, as junior Sam McGibbon (Pembroke, Mass.) capped the first half with trey for the 33-24 advantage.

The Seahawks came firing out of the gates after the break, as a 6-0 run paced by junior Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.) pulled the hosts within a single possession, 33-30. The Seahawk offense continued to knock at the back door, and with 4:44 left in the third quarter, a 10-2 run capped by a three-pointer from Scorpio put Salve back in front for the first time since the opening whistle, 43-41. Wentworth couldn't get shots to fall, while Salve closed the third with a 4-0 run for the 47-41 lead.

The Leopards regained their rhythm in the last quarter, but Salve never surrendered the lead and outscored the visitors 15-12 to seal the conference win, 62-53.  

For the second straight contest, Duclos led the Leopard offense with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Morton rounded out double figures for WIT with 11 points and seven assists, and joined Duclos and classmate Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.) with seven rebounds. Junior Emily Magasic (West Milford, N.J.) led the Leopards on the boards with eight rebounds.

Three starting Seahawks reached double digits on the scoreboard, led by Scorpio's 17 points. Senior Tara Burke (Londonderry, N.H.) had the lone double-double performance on the afternoon with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while classmate Kerri Beland (Attleboro, Mass.) rounded out the top scoring for Salve with 12 points.

Wentworth is back inside Tansey Gym on January 8 for its first home slate of the New Year, for a 5:30 p.m. conference clash with Endicott. 

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