BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball handed the top team in the Commonwealth Coast Conference its second conference loss of the season, coming away with a 59-53 win over Western New England University Tuesday evening.
 
Hawk Highlights
Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.): 17 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals
Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.): 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.): 6 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.): 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
 
For The Opponents
Emily Farrell (New Fairfield, Conn.): 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Meghan Orbann (East Hampton, Conn.): 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Courtney Carlson (Woodbury, Conn.): 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Emily Scurka (Billerica, Mass.): 7 points, 7 rebounds
 
How It Happened
The first quarter was tight throughout, with four ties and four lead changes. Neither side led by more than three in the period, with RWU holding on to a slight 14-13 advantage after the first.
 
Western New England was able to take a brief 17-16 lead on a layup by Julia Quinn (Thomaston, Conn.), but Sam Leone came back with a layup to put the Hawks back up by one with 7:12 left in the half. The Hawks maintained the lead for most of the period until Western New England tied the game at 24 with a minute and a half to play. However, a Hannah Driscoll (Hampton, N.H.) jumper put RWU back up by two, allowing the team to go into the break with the lead.
 
In the third, the Hawks were able to extend the lead to six (37-31) halfway through the quarter, but the Golden Bears would score seven straight points to go back up by one. A long scoreless stretch for both sides ended on a Karli Opalka jumper. RWU would hold WNE to only one point over the final three minutes, going into the fourth up 41-38.
 
In the final period, RWU was able to keep Western New England at arm's length the whole way. RWU never relinquished the lead, helped in large part by the Golden Bears shooting 1-for-6 over the final two minutes.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (11-8, 7-3 CCC): Saturday, February 1 vs. Wentworth @ 1:00pm
Western New England (15-4, 8-2 CCC): Saturday, February 1 at Salve Regina @ 1:00pm