Pride Rally Falls Short at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. – Regis College closed a double-digit deficit down to one point early in the fourth quarter, but Salve Regina University put together a run to hold off the Pride as the Seahawks earned an 86-76 victory Thursday evening in a non-conference women's collegiate basketball game at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) scored 17 of her team-high 22 points in the second half, plus she pulled down seven rebounds. Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) also collected seven rebounds to go along with 20 points and five steals, and Kailyn Smith (Chelmsford, Mass.) came off the bench to contribute a season-high 10 points.

Salve Regina (6-8) took its largest lead of the game at 59-41 with 4:20 left in the third quarter before Regis put together its most significant rally, outscoring the Seahawks 19-4 during the rest of the period. The Pride forced six Salve Regina turnovers as Zancan scored eight points and Smith collected five points during the scoring run that capped a 30-point quarter for the Pride, its highest total in a single quarter since a 32-point first quarter against Dean almost one full year ago (1/14/23).

The Seahawks opened the fourth quarter with another turnover and Bella George (Lynnfield, Mass.) converted a layup to bring the Pride within one point, but the home team settled down and rattled off a 9-2 scoring run, capped by a three-pointer from Ashley Rourke. Regis could not maintain its momentum as Salve Regina was able to hold on for the victory.

After Doherty scored the first two points of the game, Salve Regina scored the next six points, including four straight points from Briana Neary. Zancan converted a traditional three-point play to keep the Pride within three points at 13-10, but the Seahawks rattled off nine straight points, capped by four consecutive points from Sofia Neary, to open a 22-10 advantage late in the first quarter.

The Seahawks extended their lead to 31-15 on a three-pointer by Olivia Martin at the end of the first period and a layup from Deanna Linscott at the start of the second quarter. The Pride battled back with nine straight points, capped by a three-pointer from Smith, but the Seahawks quickly regained their 16-point lead with nine unanswered points of their own, eventually going into halftime with a 45-30 advantage.

Rourke led the Seahawks with 22 points, while the Neary sisters both notched double-doubles, with Sofia Neary earning 16 points and 14 rebounds and Briana Neary collecting 12 points and 17 rebounds. Salve Regina dominated the rebounding battle, 56-33, featuring 23 offensive boards that led to 29 second chance points.

As a team, the Pride shot 39.7 percent (27-for-68) from the field and 78.3 percent (18-for-23) from the free throw line. Regis stayed in the game by scoring 30 points off 23 Seahawk turnovers.

Regis College (2-10, 1-1 GNAC) returns to league play Saturday, Jan. 6, at Anna Maria College starting at approximately 2 p.m.