WESTON, Mass. – Freshman forward Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) had her fourth consecutive double-double and senior forward Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) had a game-high 18 points, as the Regis College women's basketball team cruised to a 68-30 win over Lesley University in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) opener for both schools. With the win, the Pride pull even at 2-2 overall and move to 1-0 in the NECC, while the Lynx drop to 0-5, 0-1 NECC.
The Pride came out on fire and jumped to a comfortable lead after a 16-0 start, with points coming from all five Regis starters. Lesley was held scoreless until senior guard Emily Fleming (Medford, Mass.) hit a three-point shot at the 13:07 mark.
Another three-pointer by Fleming, and one from sophomore Ari Dimou (Manchester, N.H.) cut the lead to 14 just inside the ten minute mark, but Regis would close out the half on a 15-2 run to head into halftime with a 38-11 lead. Ramonas scored 16 of her points in the opening 20 minutes of play on 7-for-9 shooting from the field. Hawkesworth and junior Janaya Bradley (New Haven, Conn.) combined for 12 first-half points for the Pride.
Lesley shot just 4-for-23 (17.4%) from the field in the first half, while the Pride were 17-for-36 (47.2%).
After trading baskets in the early minutes of the second half, senior Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) scored nine straight points for the Lynx to make the score 47-24 with just over eleven minutes emaining. But the Pride once again showed just why they are the defending NECC Champions, as they went on to close out the game on a 21-6 run for the win.
Sophomore Michaela Maguire (Revere, Mass.) led the way for the Pride with six second half points, while Bradley and senior Leah Murphy (Westborough, Mass.) chipped in with five points apiece in the second stanza. Hawkesworth finished with a game total of ten points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Ramonas had six rebounds, one assist, and one steal to go along with her 18 points.
Fleming and Apgar combined for 21 points and six steals for the visitors, while junior center Grace Amato (South Royalton, Vt.) grabbed nine rebounds in the losing effort.
Both teams will return to action this Thursday, with each hosting NECC opponents. Lesley hosts Newbury at 8:00 p.m. while Regis will welcome Becker for a 6:00 p.m. game.