BROOKLINE, Mass. – Regis College's Sabree Rodriguez (Brockton, Mass.) scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) added 19 points and 11 rebounds of her own as the Pride defeated Newbury College, 83-70, on Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball action. The Pride improves to a perfect 16-0 in the NECC and 19-4 overall while the Nighthawks drop to 12-10 overall and 10-5 in league games.
The first half was a back and forth battle as the teams exchanged leads throughout the period. Sabree Rodriguez's layup at the 10:05 mark gave the Pride a four point lead at 24-20 before Newbury scored five straight points on a layup by Kendra Bannister and a three-ball from Morganna Machado to take the lead back. Leah Murphy's (Westborough, Mass.) triple four minutes later gave the Pride a five point lead (32-27), but the Nighthawks again responded, and made it a one point game on a Catherine O'Connell layup.
The Pride led by four with just over a minute remaining but back-to-back baskets by Katie Haney and Nephie Marsh left the game knotted at 35 headed into the half.
Regis opened up an early three point lead on an and-one layup by Sabree Rodriguez, but the Nighthawks continued to hang around to start the half, never trailing by more than three through the first three minutes of the second half. Rodriguez then buried a triple with 16:38 remaining in regulation to make it a 47-43 lead and the Pride never looked back, stretching its advantage out to as many as 11 over the next four minutes.
The Pride led by as many as 18 in the period, however Newbury ended the game on a 6-1 run to make the final score, 83-70.
Rodriguez and Ramonas each posted double-doubles for the Pride, who were also helped by 13 rebounds from Emilee Marro (Bedford, N.H.). Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) chipped in with nine points, while Janaya Bradley (New Haven, Conn.) and Leah Murphy each added seven points apiece off the bench.
Regis returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Pride hosts Elms College at 1:00 p.m. as a part of the team's senior day activities.