SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Western New England needed extra time to pull off a win, as the Golden Bears defeated the Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team 66-61 in overtime Tuesday evening at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
Junior guard Emily Savino (Ellington, Conn.) scored a season high 28 points as Western New England clinched a home playoff game in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship that begins next Tuesday (Feb. 21). The Golden Bears are now 13-11 overall and 12-5 in conference play with one game remaining in the regular season.
Savino put on a sweet performance in the Valentine's Day contest making 10-of-18 shots from the field (including a pair of three-pointers) and all six free throws while dishing out six assists.
Roger Williams, who lost by 20 points to WNE (66-46) back on January 19 in Newport, Rhode Island, dominated most of the game taking a 24-21 lead at halftime. The Hawks matched their biggest lead at 50-42 following a basket by sophomore guard Ari Renwick (Westwood, Mass.) with 8:58 to play.
The Golden Bears fought back getting within 52-50 thanks to back-to-back baskets by junior center Elena Radzikowski (Medway, Mass.), the last coming with 3:36 remaining. The Hawks led by three (56-53) after sophomore Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) scored with 1:46 left.
Savino sank two free throws to tie the contest at 56-56 with 50 seconds to play and the game ended that way in regulation after Western New England couldn't get off a shot in the final seconds.
Savino then hit a jumper to give the Golden Bears their first lead of the night 32 seconds into the extra session. The teams traded baskets before Savino drained a three-pointer for a 63-58 advantage with 3:13 to play and the Hawks were able to score only three points the rest of the way.
Radzikowski finished with 12 points and six rebounds coming off the bench while sophomore guard Justine King (Ware, Mass.) added nine points in a reserve role.
Bovee also played well scoring 25 points (9-for-16 from the field) with five three-pointers. She also pulled down nine rebounds and had four assists.
Junior forward Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.), the CCC Player of the Week, contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.) was the third RWU player in double figures with ten points.
Roger Williams, which had won two straight and five of seven contests, is now 13-11 and 10-7 in CCC play. The Hawks will host Salve Regina Saturday in their season finale.
- Release courtesy of the Western New England University Sports Information Department
