Women’s Basketball snags win away from Western New England

Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team utilized a late rally to slip past Western New England University Thursday evening with a 54-53 win. The Hawks trailed by four with just under two minutes to play but managed to come back in the final seconds to pull out the win.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout the entire contest. Both teams combined for three ties and ten lead changes. The Hawks only led by one after halftime (24-23), and Western New England eventually turned a 31-33 deficit into a 38-33 lead with 13:49 left.

The Golden Bears managed to hold on to the lead for most of the remainder of the game. The Hawks managed to make it a one-possession game multiple times over the course of the period, but were unable to get the go-ahead basket.

Western New England led by as many as seven at one point, with a pair of free throws by Chelsea Vujs (Berlin, Conn.) putting the Golden Bears on top 48-41 with 6:48 to play. Roger Williams climbed back into the game, using a 7-1 run to make it a one-point game with 3:29 to play.

Samantha McCann (Warren, Mass.) knocked down a jumper with 1:31 left to put WNE up 53-49. It looked like the Golden Bears were on their way holding off RWU for the win, but Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) had other plans, taking over for RWU down the stretch.

She drained a three-pointer with 34 seconds left to pull RWU within one. The Golden Bears would then miss the front end of a 1-and-1, giving RWU the chance to go for the win. As RWU ran down the clock, Ariola drove into the middle of the lane with 15 seconds left and was fouled on a layup attempt, giving her a chance to give RWU the lead.

Ariola calmly sank both free shots for RWU to give the Hawks a one-point lead. The Golden Bears had two great opportunities to win the game, with a missed three-pointer going off a Hawk defender to give WNE another chance at the basket with seven seconds left. A long two-point attempt in the final seconds bounced off the back of the rim, giving RWU the victory.

Ariola led all scorers with 19 points, while Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. Rachel Battista (Johnston, R.I.) added 13 points and three boards.

McCann finished with 15 points and six rebounds for WNE, while Vujs was just shy of a double-double, going for ten points and nine boards. Amanda Lopez (Windsor, Conn.) finished with 12 points off the bench.

On Saturday, Roger Williams heads to Nichols, while Western New England hosts Curry.

Print Friendly Version