BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball erased an early deficit to come away with a 60-53 win over Wheaton College Tuesday evening in the team's 2018-19 opener.
 
The Hawks trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, beginning the game 0-for-8 from the field and did not score their first point until the 5:20 mark in the opening frame. Mikayla Pucci (Hopkinton, Mass.) had six of Wheaton's first 14 points to help build the Lyon lead.
 
After a pair of Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.) free throws put RWU on the board, the Hawks slowly chipped away at the deficit. The Hawks managed to hold Wheaton scoreless over the final 2:40 of the opening quarter and trailed by only three (15-18) entering the second.
 
Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.) downed a trey three minutes into the second quarter to tie the game up at 20. Sam Mancinelli (Peabody, Mass.) hit a three of her own a couple of minutes later to give RWU its first lead of the game (23-22). Abby Hamilton (Gorham, Maine) sunk a three for Wheaton to give the Lyons back the advantage. Both teams traded baskets over the final four minutes of the quarter, yet Margarita Delaporta (Canton, Mass.) drained a three at the buzzer to give RWU a 32-31 lead going into halftime.
 
After Pucci opened the third with a basket for Wheaton, Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.) answered with a layup of her own to regain the lead for RWU. The Hawks would not trail again for the rest of the quarter, with Jerahian closing out the quarter with a layup off an outlet pass from Mancinelli to give RWU a nine-point lead.
 
In the fourth, RWU did not allow Wheaton to come closer than seven in the period, despite shooting only 22.2% from the field. The Hawks held the Lyons to the same mark in the quarter, as Wheaton went 4-for-18.
 
Jerahian led RWU with 13 points to go along with four rebounds. Mancinelli had seven points, eight assists, and three blocks while Emily Yonych (Cheshire, Conn.) scored seven with nine boards and three blocks off the bench.
 
Pucci finished with a double-double for Wheaton going for a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Hamilton added six points, three boards, and a game-high 10 assists, with Sarah McLeman (Auburn, N.H.) contributing eight points and five rebounds.
 
Roger Williams (1-0) takes on Eastern Conn. St. in the Trinity College Tournament on Friday, while Wheaton (0-1) hosts Lesley on Friday as well.