Weston, Mass.—Having posted one of its best seasons in the last 10 years, Regis College women’s basketball will host Wentworth in the first round of The Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 PM.
Third seed Regis College (17-8, 11-2 TCCC) will host sixth seed Wentworth in the TCCC Quarterfinals Tuesday. The Pride won its earlier match-up against the Leopards, defeating Wentworth 54-47 Jan. 30.
In that game junior Sarah McNult (Hampstead, N.H.) had a 15-point, 17-rebound performance that lifted Regis College to a then 6-1 TCCC record. Sophomore Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) contributed 13 points, and has been a solid point guard since that game.
Senior Jessica Page (Quincy, Mass.) had just nine points, but will need a far more solid night to make sure that Regis moves past Wentworth Tuesday.
Brittany White (Dorchester, Mass.) was another exceptional player able of maintaining the boards against the Leopards. White had 10 rebounds in the contest.
The two teams struggled from the floor. Regis shot a lowly 26 percent from the field, and just 11 percent from behind the three-point line. The Pride is shooting just above 40 percent from the field, and 33 percent on the season.
In a game where both teams seemed identical, Regis must show itself as the more deserving team Tuesday. Page is approximately 20 points away from being Regis’ all-time leading scorer, and with a host of talent on the floor and bench, Regis must be sound at both ends of the court.
Page will have to play as she did when Regis opened its conference play against Colby-Sawyer. In that game she had 23 points and snagged 11 rebounds.
Although White has seen limited minutes in recent games, she is still a player that can contribute when on the court. McNult plays like no other, and if she grabbed 17 rebounds once, which was a season-high, she could very well do it a second time.
Crawford’s potential occasionally shines when she is on the court. She made two incredible back door passes Saturday versus Anna Maria, and still has the ability to penetrate the lane. Crawford needs to drive to the lane, and if not for the lay-up, then surely for the easy 12-footer.
Stefanie Wozmak (Auburn, N.H.) and Meagan Tobin (Quincy, Mass.) have both been valuable contributors. Equally good shooters, both will have to have patience and poise while in this game.
As a team Regis must do the basic things well, and the extras even better. Limiting turnovers, making easy transition baskets, and moving the ball around to the open player are the basics. The extras will be forcing Wentworth to cause its own downfall by playing solid defense, and capitalizing on second-chance scoring opportunities.
Albeit bias, Regis could possibly be the much better team, when it wants to be. In two halves of play Regis must outscore Wentworth. Doing so gives Regis its first quarterfinal win in three years, and its next opponent looking for a way out of playing the PRIDE!