WESTON, Mass. - Rivier University led from wire-to-wire Tuesday night, defeating Regis College, 78-58, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinal game at Higgins Court.
For the Pride, Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) led the team with 16 points, while Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) finished with 15 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, tying the sixth-highest single-game total in program history and the most by a Regis player in over five years. Jordyn Striggles (Raynham, Mass.) scored nine points, and Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) added eight points.
Lyric Grumblatt opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and the Raiders held the lead the rest of the way. After a layup by Doherty, Rivier scored nine unanswered points to open a 16-4 advantage midway through the first quarter.
The Raiders scored the first six points of the second quarter on baskets by Rachel Guinn, Grumblatt, and Alexa Dufries. Holding a 44-28 halftime lead, Brianna Wilcox helped extend the advantage with consecutive three-pointers early in the third quarter, and then a three-pointer by Hannah Muchemore late in the period established Rivier's largest lead of the night at 62-38.
Five players scored in double figures for the balanced Raider offensive attack, led by Dufries with 16 points along with seven rebounds. Bea Stafford scored 15 points off the bench, while Muchemore finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Wilcox collected 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals, and Grumblatt contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
As a team, Rivier shot 39.7 percent (27-for-68) from the field, including 7-for-25 from behind the three-point line, and 70.8 percent (17-for-24) from the free throw line. The Raiders committed just 10 turnovers, dished out 20 assists on 27 made field goals, and scored 19 points off 20 Regis turnovers.
The Pride shot just 31.8 percent (21-for-66) from the field and 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from the free throw line. Regis did win the rebounding battle, 49-44, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points.
Regis sees its 2022-23 season conclude with a 12-13 overall record. Rivier (14-12) will face Saint Joseph's College in the semifinals of the GNAC Tournament Thursday, Feb. 23.