Pride Women’s Hoop Earns First Victory of 2021-22

WESTON, Mass. – In a tightly contested battle with eight ties, including at the end of regulation, and eight lead changes, Regis College hit 10-of-12 free throw attempts in the extra session on its way to a 69-65 overtime victory over Eastern Nazarene College Tuesday night in a non-conference women's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) shot 10-of-15 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line as she led the Pride with a career-high 29 points along with 14 rebounds for her ninth career double-double. Arie Searcy (Santa Rosa, Calif.) also notched a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) hit 7-of-8 shots from the charity stripe as she contributed a season-high 12 points.

Down by two at halftime, the Pride scored six of the first seven points of the third quarter on layups by Gonzalez and Erica Regan (Sterling, Mass.) as well as two made free throws by Searcy. The teams would exchange points throughout the third quarter until a three-pointer from Eastern Nazarene's Sara Ruzicka in the final seconds of the period tied the game at 39-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

Regis took a four-point lead on two free throws by Gonzalez and a layup from Searcy, but the Lions answered with a three-pointer from Sydni Oviatt. Eastern Nazarene erased a five-point deficit midway through the period on baskets by Janelle Jiron, Shade Richardson, and Te'yalla Simpson, but the Pride reestablished their advantage at 53-48 on a traditional three-point play from Gonzalez.

Two jumpers by Sophia Torres and a layup from Oviatt brought the Lions back within one with 33 seconds left in regulation, but Doherty made her free throws to give Regis a three-point lead. Eastern Nazarene would tie the game on a three-pointer by Oviatt, and the two teams traded turnovers to keep the game tied at 57-57, forcing overtime.

Eastern Nazarene took a four-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the overtime period on baskets by Alondra Jimenez and Oviatt. The Pride battled back, scoring their last eight points from the free throw line. Down by two with 12 seconds left, the Lions had an opportunity to take advantage of two Pride missed free throws, but Gonzalez grabbed the offensive rebound and found Doherty, who was fouled and made both her free throws to clinch the first career coaching victory for Regis head coach Samantha Crough.

Oviatt led the Lions with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jiron notched her own double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Torres contributed 12 points, and Jimenez added six points, three rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

As a team, the Lions shot 34.3 percent (24-of-70) from the field and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the free throw line, while the Pride hit 32.8 percent (20-of-61) of their field goal attempts and 81.3 percent (26-of-32) of their free throw opportunities. Both teams pulled down 17 offensive boards, with Regis taking better advantage with 17 second chance points against Eastern Nazarene's seven second chance points.

Marissa Prall (Hopkinton, Mass.) started the game with a steal and three-pointer to give Regis a lead it would hold throughout the first quarter. Down 17-11, the Lions began the second quarter with a 9-2 scoring run, and then, after six unanswered points for Regis, they would outscore the Pride 9-2 over the final five minutes of the first half to pull ahead at halftime, 29-27.

Regis College (1-3) hosts University of New England Sunday, Nov. 28, starting at 12 p.m. at Higgins Court. Eastern Nazarene (5-2) heads to Rhode Island to face Salve Regina Saturday, Nov. 27, for a 1 p.m. tipoff.