Regis Women’s Hoop Drops 2024 Opener to Emerson

WESTON, Mass. - Regis College battled back from one significant Emerson College scoring run, but it could not overcome a second one as the Lions defeated the Pride, 72-56, Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference women's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) led the Pride with 20 points, hitting two three-pointers in a game for the first time in her collegiate career and scoring 16 of those points in the second half as she also collected seven rebounds and three assists. Jordyn Striggles (Raynham, Mass.) hit four three-pointers on her way to a 14-point performance, Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals, and Haley Lightbody (Reading, Mass.) paced Regis with eight rebounds.

Emerson took the lead for good less than three minutes into the game on a layup by Ella Bushee. The Lions held an 11-5 advantage late in the first quarter, but the Pride closed to within one point on a three-pointer by Zancan and a putback from Bella George (Lynnfield, Mass.) with 12 seconds remaining in the period.

The Lions scored the first 10 points of the second quarter, led by Bri Frongillo with five points. Emerson went 6-for-7 from behind the three-point line in the second period, and Frongillo capped the first half with consecutive layups in the final 20 seconds to extend the Lion lead to 39-22 at halftime.

After Frongillo made two free throws early in the third quarter, Regis found its offensive groove, putting together a 16-2 scoring run, punctuated by a three-pointer from Striggles, to close to within four points at 45-41 with 3:29 left in the period. Emerson was able to prevent the Pride from coming any closer, with a three-pointer from Olivia Deslauriers extending the Lion advantage to 52-43 heading into the fourth quarter.

Zancan converted a traditional three-point play early in the fourth quarter to keep the Pride within striking distance, but the Lions put the game away with 10 unanswered points, capped by consecutive three-pointers from Frongillo.

Frongillo shot 10-for-19 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the three-point line, to finish with 26 points along with four assists and two steals. Deslauriers collected 16 points, Bushee contributed 10 points and five rebounds, and Charlotte Levison led all players with 16 rebounds as Emerson won the rebounding battle, 47-33.

As a team, the Lions shot 42.2 percent (27-for-64) from the field, including 10-for-23 from behind the three-point line, and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. On the other side, the Pride shot 32.3 percent (20-for-62) from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line, plus they scored 15 points off 24 Emerson turnovers.

Regis College (2-9) begins a three-game road stretch at Salve Regina Thursday, Jan. 4, with a 5 p.m. tipoff, followed by road games at Anna Maria Jan. 6 and at Fitchburg State Jan. 10. Emerson College (7-5) hosts New England College Thursday at 5 p.m.