SEAHAWKS RALLY PAST PRIDE IN SEASON OPENER

WALTHAM, Mass. - Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) scored 45 points and added 11 rebounds to lead Salve Regina University to a 66-60 victory over Regis College in the second game of the Brandeis University Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Waltham, Mass. The Seahawks (1-0) overcame a 17 point halftime deficit to rally past the Pride (0-1).

Salve Regina scored the first points of the 2014-15 season for both squads as Harden connected on a jumper in the opening minute of the half. The Pride answered with a quick 6-0 spurt on baskets by Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass.), Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) and Emilee Marro (Bedford, N.H.) before a three point play from Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) cut the Pride lead back to one with just over 15 minutes to play.

At the 6:23 mark, Meaghan Harden entered the Salve Regina record books, connecting on the second of three freethrows to become the fastest Seahawks player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau.

Regis started to pull away at the 12 minute mark of the first half as a triple from Janaya Bradley (New Haven, Conn.) off a nice feed from Alyssa Lanpher (Princeton, Mass.) extended the Pride lead to 16-9. Brandi Bonneau's (Derry, N.H.) first career points gave the Pride a 13 point lead with 4:46 to play, and the Pride used an 8-2 run near the end of the half, capped off by a Marro three, to take a 35-16 lead with less than a minute to play. Del Valle connected on a pair of freethrows to end the run as the Pride took a commanding 35-18 lead into the half.

Marro led all scorers at the half with nine points and added seven rebounds and four assists. Harden led the Seahawks with nine points of her own and five rebounds.

Salve started their comeback with a 9-0 run to start the period as Harden scored seven points in the first three-plus minutes. Bradley ended the run with a three, and a Hawkesworth jumper from the top of the key put the lead Pride back to 14 with 15:15 to play. The Seahawks would not go away however, using an 8-0 run this time to cut it to 41-35 after a jumper by Del Valle and six more points from Harden.

Bradley gave Regis a 10 point lead with a layup on the fast break, but it would be their final double-digit lead of the period with just over 11 minutes to play. A Harden jumper followed by a Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) basket and a Harden triple erased the Pride advantage in less than a minute as Salve cut the deficit to one possession at 45-42. Bonneau and Linsay Bumila (Raynham, Mass.) scored four-straight points for Regis, but a Harden layup capped another run for Salve Regina and made it a 49-48 game.

The two teams traded baskets and a pair of Harden freebies tied the game at 54-all with just under five minutes to play. At the 3:41 mark, Harden gave the Seahawks their first lead since 2-0 as Salve took a 56-54 lead. Bonneau answered on the other end by banking home a three to put Regis back on top 57-56, and Lanpher added a freethrow to make it 58-56, but Harden answered again for Salve and tied it with a jumper. On the next possession, Harden was fouled in the act of shooting, hit the shot and the ensuing freethrow, to put the Seahawks on top for good at 61-58.

A Brittany Stone jumper with 1:20 to play would get Regis back within one, but the Seahawks hit their freethrows down the stretch, holding on for the 66-60 come from behind win.

Regis won the rebound battle, 49-45, with both teams committing 16 turnovers. The difference in the game came at the freethrow line as Regis only mustered a 9-of-18 showing, while Salve connected on 20-of-29 attempts.

Harden was joined in double-figures by Del Valle, who posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Laura Ann Dinan ended the game with eight points, three rebounds, and four assists. Salve Regina rebounded from shooting 21.4% from the field in the first half, to shoot 61.5% after the break.

Regis' Janaya Bradley and Emilee Marro tied for the team-lead with 10 points apiece. Marro added eight rebounds and seven assists, while Brittany Stone just missed out on a double-double in her first career start, scoring nine points and grabbing a team-best 11 rebounds. Amanda Hawkesworth also added nine points, while Bumila and Bonneau had eight points apiece.

Salve advances to the Championship game where they will take on the host Judges at 2:00 p.m. Regis will take on Mount Ida in the Consolation game at 12:00 p.m.