BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team faced its most challenging test of the season Thursday evening with a non-conference matchup against Smith College. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Smith came away with hard-fought 67-63 win to give RWU its first loss of the season.
 
Hawk Highlights
Katie Galligan: 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Sophie Araneo: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Kendi Barnard: 2 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 steals
Caroline Elie: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
 
For The Opponents
Dashelle Gleissner: 21 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
Jessie Ruffner: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Katelyn Pickunka: 8 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Ally Yamada: 8 points, 2 assists, 3 steals
 
How It Happened
Smith played stifling defense on the Hawks over the first four minutes of play. Dashelle Gleissner (Los Angeles, Calif.) got things started for the Pioneers with a step-back jumper and a three for a quick 5-0 lead. Sam Mancinelli (Peabody, Mass.) answered with a wide-open three for the Hawks, but points were still hard to come by as RWU only managed five points in the first seven minutes. However, RWU rallied late in the period to make it a 16-20 game after one.
 
In the second quarter, the Hawks struggled shooting from the field, going 3-for-17 in the period. Though RWU managed to keep their possessions alive with six offensive boards in the quarter, the team still had difficulty putting points on the board, finishing the second with only nine points in the period. The end result was a 36-25 lead for Smith entering halftime.
 
After Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton, Mass.) began the third with a layup for the Pioneers, the Hawk offense woke up, utilizing an 11-0 run to pull within two. However, Smith would not allow RWU come all the way back, keeping things within a possession in the quarter. Entering the fourth, the Pioneers held a small 44-41 lead.
 
In the fourth, the Hawks kept the game tight throughout the period, with Katie Galligan (Pembroke, Mass.) knocking down a pair of free throws with 3:22 left to give RWU their first lead of the game (51-50). On the ensuing possession, Gleissner stole the ball and was given a clear-path foul, allowing her to sink a free throw and tie the game. That would become the characterization for the remainder of the game for the Hawks, as the team would be called for ten fouls over the final three minutes of game. The Pioneers would take full advantage of the calls, going 15-of-19 from the line including hitting their final ten shots from the charity stripe in a row. The crucial call was a borderline foul on RWU on a floater by Gleissner, giving her a three-point play and putting Smith up 56-51 with 1:29 left in the game. The five-point lead, combined with Smith's shooting prowess at the line, helped hand RWU its first loss of the 2021-22 season.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (16-1): Sunday, January 30 at Curry @ 1:00pm
Smith (14-1): Saturday, January 29 vs. Mount Holyoke @ 2:00pm