BRISTOL, R.I. – The second-seeded Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team was eliminated by the third-seeded Salve Regina Seahawks, 69-48 in the semi-final of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament Thursday night.  The Seahawks advance to their second straight CCC championship.

Salve took control of the game early, outscoring and playing strong defense to hold the Hawks to a score of 11-2 in the first five minutes.  Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) and Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) were forces on the boards for Salve each pulling down six rebounds in the first half.

The Hawks battled their way back into the game as a three-pointer from Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.) and a layup from Kaityln Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) brought the Hawks within two by a score of 9-11 with 10:35 remaining in the first half.  Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) and Pendergast helped to give the Seahawks a late lead with a pair of jumpers to take a 21-13 lead over the Hawks with 4:25 remaining in the first.

RWU found a way to answer with a pair of three-pointers from Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) and Kilzi to bring the Hawks within one point by a score of 20-21with only 3:37 remaining. Salve was able to once again fend off the oncoming attack with a pair of jumpers from Del Valle to hold onto a 25-21 lead at the half.

The Seahawks came out strong again after the break as Del Valle and Pendergast increased the lead over the Hawks to nine points with a score of 33-25with 16:04 remaining in the game.  The Hawks once again found themselves trying to play catch-up as Ariola and Kilzi brought RWU back again within three with a quick lay-up and three-pointer cutting the score to 26-32with 13:18 left to play.

The Seahawks were not willing to give up the advantage easily as they once again surged in front of the Hawks by going on a 16-3 run with Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) leading the charge for Salve, making the score 52-37 with 8:46 remaining in the game.  The Hawks dug in and tried to find a way to bring themselves back into the game as a late jumper from Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) brought the Hawks within nine, but late foul trouble and strong defense helped Salve Regina hold RWU at bay.

Harden led the Seahawks with 30 points, five rebounds, and went a perfect 10-10 on the free-throw line. Del Valle came away with a double-double, scoring 21 points and 10 total rebounds. 

Bovee also racked up a double-double in her efforts for the Hawks, scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Lanieri was the second-leading scorer for RWU with 12 points and Kilzi contributed 10 points for the Hawks. 

The Seahawks (17-10) will travel to #1 seed University of New England on Saturday for the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship.  UNE remains undefeated in CCC play and defeated the #4 Seed Endicott 69-48 earlier this evening.  The Hawks close their season with a record of 19-7.