CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Regis College women's basketball team capitalized on every opportunity given to them by host Wheelock College in an 83-57 victory this afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference contest at Brunelli Court on the campus of Pine Manor College.
Five members of the Pride scored in the double-figures to help their team win their 14th straight game to improve to 20-4 overall and a perfect 17-0 in NECC play. The win also marks the 57th consecutive conference win for Regis, dating back to when it was still a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Wildcats' three-game league win streak comes to an end as they fall to 6-18 on the year and 5-12 in league action.
The Pride controlled the glass with a 53-33 rebound advantage and owned a 22-10 margin in second chance points. The visitors took care of the basketball as well with just nine turnovers, while causing 18 and capitalizing with a 28-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
Freshman forward Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) scored 17 points on 8-13 from the field and added two rebounds, a pair of assists, a steal and a blocked shot in 18 minutes off the bench to lead the visitors. Senior forward Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) registered a double-double off 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in addition to four steals and two assists.
Junior guards Janaya Bradley (New Haven, Conn.) and Emilee Marro (Bedford, N.H.) each finished with 13 points with Bradley dishing out four assists and Marro handing out three and making three steals. Sophomore guard Alyssa Vieira-Lanpher (Princeton, Mass.) contributed with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Wheelock proved to be a formidable opponent in the first half, leading or sitting tied through the first nine minutes of the contest. The Wildcats took an 11-9 lead, courtesy of a three-pointer from sophomore guard Katie Alsip (Quincy, Mass.) at the 12:43 mark. The teams were knotted at 15-15 with 8:53 showing in the first half, before Regis went on a 17-3 run, paced by six points from Bradley, to take a 32-18 cushion with 3:48 to play in the opening period.
The Pride maintained their lead at 39-25 with 71 seconds left in the half, before freshman center Michelle Woods (Wilmington, Mass.) scored the final four points of the half to pull Wheelock to within 39-29 at the intermission.
The lead remained at 10 for Regis with a 47-37 score, four minutes into the half. The Pride put the game out of reach with a 16-3 stretch, fueled by six points from Marro, to take a commanding 63-40 lead with 11:13 remaining in the game.
Freshman point guard Jaime Grzych (Columbia, Conn.) later drained a pair of free throws for the Wildcats to cut the deficit to 65-48 with 8:21 showing in the half, but Regis scored 14 of the next 15 points to take its cushion of the afternoon at 79-49 with 4:36 left in the contest.
Woods led all players with 25 points to go with 10 rebounds and two steals for Wheelock, while Grzych netted 12 points, grabbed three rebounds, handed out four assists and came up with a pair of steals. Freshman guard Emily Doyle (Lynn, Mass.) netted double figures for the fourth straight game with 12 points, including four three-pointers and added three rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.
The Wildcats return to action on Thursday, February 20 when they travel to Brookline, Mass. to take on NECC foe Newbury College for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off in a game to be played at Hellenic College. Regis will look to wrap up its third consecutive perfect NECC slate with a home game against Mitchell College on February 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Release courtesy of Wheelock Sports Information