BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team defeated the University of New England 67-66 Saturday afternoon in the final game of the regular season. In the process, the Hawks earned the #2 seed for the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament beginning next week.
 
Hawk Highlights
Sam Mancinelli (Peabody, Mass.): 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.): 6 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal
Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.): 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.): 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal
 
For The Opponents
Abby Cavallaro (South Portland, Maine): 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Ashley Coneys (Dover, N.H.): 18 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Jocelyn Chaput (Nashua, N.H.): 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Maalyn Sanborn (Lyndonville, Vt.): 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
 
How It Happened
After a first quarter that saw Roger Williams trail 14-18, RWU came through in the second quarter with 22 points while holding the Nor'Easters to only ten. Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.) knocked down a three with four minutes left to halftime to give Roger Williams a 28-26 lead. Her basket would spark an 11-2 run over the rest of the period that would give RWU a 36-28 halftime lead.
 
Roger Williams would build the lead to 13 in the third quarter (43-30) and looked poised to hold off the Nor'Easters. However, UNE would hold RWU scoreless over a four-minute stretch while cutting the deficit to only one (42-43). Roger Williams would take that one-point lead into the fourth quarter, up 52-51.
 
In the fourth, the Nor'Easters took a brief 55-54 lead on a basket by Sadie Nelson (Windham, Maine) with 8:12 to play. However RWU went back up on a bucket by Sophie Araneo (Branford, Conn.). The Hawks went up by as many as six before the Nor"Easters came back to tie the game at 66 in the final minute of the game.
 
On RWU's final possession, Araneo was fouled grabbing an offensive rebound and sent to the line for a chance to put RWU on top. She would miss the first free throw but hit the second. That shot would help push RWU to the win, as UNE could not get a clean shot on their final possession.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (16-9, 12-4 CCC): Tuesday, February 25 vs. #7 Salve Regina (CCC Quarterfinals) @ 6:00pm
University of New England (18-7, 12-4 CCC): Tuesday, February 25 vs. #5 Gordon (CCC Quarterfinals) @ 6:00pm