BRISTOL, R.I. – In the first ever meeting between the two teams the Roger Williams University women's basketball team defeated Hartford, 48-34, in the first battle of the Hawks.
 
Roger Williams led 17-2 in second chance points, while also holding a slight edge in points of turnovers, 11-10. Roger Williams outscored Hartford 26-14 in points in the paint, with Hartford holding a 6-4 edge in fast break scoring.
 
Roger Williams was led in scoring by Katie Galligan (Pembroke, Mass.) who had 16 points, with four rebounds in the contest, and four steals on the defensive end.  The Hawks also saw Sophia Coppola (Madison, Conn.) score in double figures with 11 points, with four rebounds, a block and a steal. Caroline Elie (Rockland, Mass.) scored seven in the matchup, pulling down 13 rebounds.
 
Hartford saw 12 points come from Adrianna McCoy, with seven points coming from the free throw line. Ella Marchesani had nine points, while Sidnee Bowden had five points with four rebounds, and four blocks. Madison Baird also had a pair of blocks.
 
Coming off the jump ball, Elizabeth Dufrane (Falls Church, Va.) knocked down a jumper after the ball was collected by Elie to give Roger Williams the first lead of the series. Hartford responded on their first trip down the floor to level the score at 2-2, 37 seconds into the contest.
 
Roger Williams led by as many as seven in the opening quarter when, Coppola finished a tip in attempt with 5:28 remaining in the opening quarter. Hartford was able to cut into the lead going on a 6-1 run over the final 1:55 of of play cutting the lead down to one to end the frame, 13-12.
 
Roger Williams regained a four-point lead with a pair of free throws by Coppola, but Adrianna McCoy knocked down a three with 5:30 remaining in the first half to cut the deficit to one. Roger Williams then went on a 9-3 run, with Meg Qualey (Woburn, Mass.) scoring three points, over a 3-7 stretch by the Hawks, with Coppola responsible for two points, and Galligan with two.
 
In the third quarter, the Roger Williams went on the largest run of the game, outscoring Hartford, 9-4 in the frame.
 
In the fourth quarter, Roger Williams then held their largest lead of the contest leading by 19 with 5:30 remaining in the matchup.  Hartford was able to cut the lead down to as little as 13 points, but was never able to overcome the deficit.
 
Roger Williams (10-4, 6-0 CCC) will host the University of New England on Saturday, Jan. 13.  The Hawks will then travel to Beverly, Mass. To take on Endicott on Wednesday, Jan. 17 before wrapping up their week on Saturday, Jan. 20 when they host Suffolk.