Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team used a late-game rally to defeat Endicott 72-64 Saturday afternoon at the Ryan Weekes Memorial Game in Commonwealth Coast Conference competition.
Prior to the game, the Hawks honored the memory of Ryan Weekes, a 2012 graduate of Roger Williams University and Women's Basketball alumna who passed away last spring after a battle with cancer. In her honor, the team collected donations throughout the day towards a Roger Williams University scholarship fund to assist RWU students of color in need of financial assistance.
Roger Williams came out strong in the first quarter winning the starting tip off. At 7:56
Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) hit a successful three point shot to give the Hawks a 5-2 lead over Endicott.
The Gulls used their size to establish their presence on the offensive glass throughout the quarter, grabbing eight offensive boards in the period.
Mariah Nicholas (Acushnet, Mass.) and Ariola brought a strong offensive presence for the Hawks throughout the first quarter, but the teams failure to compete with Endicott's offensive rebounds kept Endicott in the lead.
At 3:30 the Hawks remained down one point to Endicott 11-12. However, Endicott ended the quarter on a 9-2 run, including Catie Lipscomb's successful three-pointer.to up the lead over Roger Williams to 21-13.
The second quarter started off slow offensively for both teams. The Hawks started with a jump shot by
Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.) jump shot at 8:07 to bring the score to 16-21. Another shot by
Stephanie Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) at 7:40 gave Hawks the push they needed.
At 6:21, the Hawks only trailed by two 22-24, but were lacking a strong team offensive rebound and missed the points. Play remained back and forth as the Hawks tried to push back. A jump shot by
Rachel Battista at 3:37 and layup by
Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) just under a minute later gave the Hawks the drive they needed. Later, Battista's two free throws at 2:10 allowed the Hawks to tie 33-33. However, the Gulls still managed to take a 40-35 lead at the end of the half.
The Gulls managed to build a seven-point lead over the Hawks, 48-41, three minutes into the third quarter.
Only down by a three pointer, Ariola gave the Hawks just what they needed to tie the game at 3:10. Play moved back and forth for the next few minutes, until Battista stole the lead from the Gulls at 1:46 with a three-pointer to make it 54-52. Endicott tried to tie back the game with a three-pointer at the buzzer but could not connect.
Entering the last quarter of the game, the Gulls wanted to take back their leading position. At 9:02 Hannah Kiernan (Wenham, Mass.) tied the game for the Gulls 54-54. A technical foul on the Gulls at 8:54 allowed the Hawks to quickly take back their lead 56-54. As play moved forward, the Hawks continuously gained more momentum. Not until 5:28 were the Gulls able to regain the lead. It was Lipscomb who brought up Endicott 60-59 with a layup.
Two free throws at 5:38 by Lowerre allowed Roger Williams to take back the lead 61-60. A layup by Ariola at 4:46, pulled the Hawks ahead further now 63-60. Back and forth baskets were made over the next few minutes.
Under a minute left of the game, the intensity grew for Endicott as the Gulls remained just three points away from tying the game. With 49 seconds left, Nicholas grabbed a key defensive rebound for RWU, leading to free throw opportunities for Roger Williams to pull away from Endicott. The Hawks hit seven of their final eight shots at the line to secure the win.
Battista set a new career-high with 23 points in the game to go along with four steals. Ariola added 18 points and six rebounds, while Lowerre chipped in with 13 points.
Hood led Endicott with 18 points and eight rebounds. Kiernan finished with 13 points and four assists.
Roger Williams (13-8, 10-4 CCC) will travel to Quincy this Wednesday to play Eastern Nazarene at 5:00pm. Endicott (13-8, 11-3 CCC) will also travel Wednesday to play University of New England at 5:30pm.
