WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Regis College women's basketball team dropped their season opener 60-56 to non-conference opponent Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon during the 36th Annual Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament.
In a game where Regis led for 25 minutes, Bridgewater sophomore guard Jennifer Whyte (Braintree, Mass.) hit a key three-point field goal with just over a minute left after missing 13 of her first 17 shots that pushed Bridgewater ahead for good, 56-54. After Regis missed a three-pointer on its next possession, senior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) nailed a pair of free throws to make it 58-54 with 38 seconds left.
After Regis junior forward Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) dropped in a layup with 3:26 left that gave the Pride a 53-52 lead, Regis did not score from the floor over the final 3:26. The Pride could not connect on either of their final (three-point) shots after Whyte's go-ahead three-pointer with 1:13 left.
Regis's astounding 66-26 advantage in rebounding was offset by 27 turnovers which translated into 24 points for Bridgewater.
Junior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) led Bridgewater with 16 points (8-for-17 from the floor), Whyte adding 15 points, and junior guard Chelsea Saucier (Portland, Maine) chipping in 11 points. Conceicao missed ten of 13 shots from the floor but finished with nine points, seven assists and three blocked shots in 33 minutes off the bench.
Hawkesworth of Regis led all players with 21 points and also collected nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass.) had a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with eight points and freshman guard Miah Andrews (Milton, Mass.) grabbed nine rebounds (with five points) in 15 minutes off the bench. Eight of Andrews' rebounds came in the second half.
Regis will square off against former Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Nichols tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
Release Courtesy of Eastern Connecticut State University Sports Information