BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's basketball team is set to embark on their quest for a second-straight Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament title on Tuesday, Feb. 21, when they take on Nichols in a CCC Quarterfinal at 6 pm.
Roger Williams enters the CCC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, being named the regular season champion. The Hawks posted a 22-3 record throughout the season, going unbeaten in the CCC, 18-0. The Hawks are coming off their first ever CCC Tournament championship last season. The Hawks are also riding a 10-game winning streak into the matchup.
The Hawks are shooting a conference-high 44.8 percent from the floor this season, as well as the highest three-point percentage (29.4%). Roger Williams also averages as a team 67.6 points per game while holding opponents to 48.6 points per contest, ranking 10th in the Division III in scoring defense. The Hawks hold their opponents to 33.2 percent from the floor.
Leading the way for the Hawks in points are Katie Galligan (Pembroke, Mass.) and Caroline Elie (Rockland, Mass.) who have scored 339 points and 331 points respectively, with both averaging over 13 points per matchup. They are followed by Sophie Araneo (Branford, Conn.) averaging 9.3 point per game and Nikki Rosa (Nahant, Mass.) who has 8.3 points per game, with Sophia Coppola (Madison, Conn.) dropping 7.5 points per game coming off the bench.
The Hawks also share the ball with 399 of their 664 made buckets coming by way of assist. Galligan and Elie have 73 and 67 assists respectively, but Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.) has 63 assists coming from the forward/center position. Elie and Barnard are also the team leaders in rebounds, with 175 and 150 respectively.
On the defensive end Barnard has proved valuable blocking 39 shots while taking the ball away 30 times on the season. Galligan has 24 blocks on the year with 41 steals, with Elie leading the Hawks with 50 steals this season.
Their opponent, Nichols, comes into the CCC Tournament with a 7-18 record, posting a 5-13 conference record. The Bison picked up key victories, sweeping the season series against Curry and Wentworth, while also adding a win over Salve Regina. The Bison are making their second straight CCC Tournament appearance, suffering a 82-30 loss to the Hawks last season in the Quarterfinals.
Nichols leads the conference in points per game averaging 77.1 per matchup using a high paced, high-pressure transition offense. The Bison rank 11th in Division III in scoring offense. The Bison also average 17.0 steals per game ranking fifth in the country, as well as third in turnover margin at 13.76. Nichols also sits third in turnovers forced per game with 31.88 a game.
The Bison's leading scorer is Abrianna Vazquez who is averaging 22.9 points per game and is followed by Kiera Fernandes with 18.3 point per contest. Leandra Ortiz adds 9.6 points per game and Alyvia Smith adds and additional 6.2 per matchup.
The Bison average 35.2 rebounds per contest with Fernandes leading the charge on the glass, with 5.4 boards per game. Erin Cann also averages more than four rebounds per game, pulling down 4.5, and Smith adds 4.0 rebounds a game as well.
On the defensive end, Vazquez leads the way with 79 steals on the season. Fernandes added 62 this year, along with Ortiz who brings an additional 59 of the 426 steals the Bison have this season. Fernandes is also the team leader in blocks this year with 25.
The Bison and Hawks have met 53 times in program history, with Roger Williams leading the all-time series 38-15. The Hawks hold a 21-5 record at home against Nichols and are 10-0 in their last 10 meetings, while currently riding a 26-game winning streak against the Bison.
No. 1 Roger Williams (22-3, 18-0 CCC) and No. 8 Nichols (7-18, 5-13 CCC) are set to tip-off the CCC Tournament at 6 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
