BRISTOL, R.I. – The #19^th-ranked Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team honored seven seniors on the same day they soared past the Endicott Gulls by a final score of 67-54, sweeping the season series over their CCC rivals.
 
Hawk Highlights
Karli Opalka: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Caroline Elie: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Kendi Barnard: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Katie Galligan: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Sophie Araneo: 9 points, 7 rebounds
 
For The Opponents
Ariana Silvia: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Tara Laugeni: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Sarah Dempsey: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Morgan Bresnahan: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 8 blocks
 
How It Happened
There was a little bit of everything in the opening frame between the two rivals, as both teams started off trading blocks before seeing Endicott jump out to a 7-2 lead. The Hawks fought back going on a 13-10 run to end the quarter, highlighted by a layup and two blocks from Emily Yonych (Cheshire, Conn.), helping the home team get within two going into the second quarter.
 
The Hawks continued their run, scoring on their first possession of the quarter to tie the game at 17, and then grabbing the lead with 8:06 left in the half before the Gulls tied it up at 19. After this, it was all RWU, as the Hawks went on a 16–6 run while also notching 11 more rebounds and two more blocks during the second session of play. Roger Williams went into the half carrying a 35-23 lead behind Caroline Elie (Rockland, Mass.) and her 10 points, as well as Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.) tallying six rebounds, a block, and two assists.
 
The home crew went cold for most of the third frame, watching the Gulls claw back on both ends of the court, reducing Roger Williams' lead down to eight with 3:20 left, but there were signs of life as RWU continued their dominance on the boards. Then came the spark that the Hawks needed thanks to a Elie jumper, and then a knockdown three from Kay Reen (Norwood, Mass.) that ignited the arena and helped Roger Williams maintain their lead before Endicott scored four unanswered points including a buzzer beater by Emily St. Thomas (Sterling, Mass.) to end the quarter.
 
The team in white took a seven-point lead into the final session, and started building again with help from the front court, as both Opalka and Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.) combined for six points, and five rebounds through the first three minutes of play. A dagger three from Katie Galligan (Pembroke, Mass.) then expanded the Hawks to 14 before the Gulls went on a 6-2 run which was abruptly ended by back-to-back layups from Opalka. Roger Williams ended the game, having dominated both ends of the floor in the final frame, out rebounding, out-blocking, and out-scoring the Gulls 22-12 while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 minutes of play.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (19-1, 14-0 CCC): Tuesday, February 8 at Salve Regina @ 5:30pm
Endicott (12-8, 9-4 CCC): Tuesday, February 8 vs. Curry @ 7:30pm