DUDLEY, Mass. – The Roger Williams University women's basketball team turned a one point halftime lead into a 18 point win, with a 82-64 victory over the Bison of Nichols College in the Nichols Athletic Center in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action.
With the win the Hawks clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming CCC Tournament and will host the No. 6 seeded Bison in Bristol.
Sophia Coppola (Madison, Conn.) was responsible for 15 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, with a pair of blocks, and six assists.
Katie Galligan (Pembroke, Mass.) also chipped in 24 points on the offensive end, with 10 boards, pulling registering the second Hawk double-double of the game.
Caroline Aaron (Wrentham, Mass.) added nine points with six boards, and four assists, with
Lilli Clark pulling down 10 rebounds, with seven points.
Roger Williams jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the opening 3:06 of action, but Nichols battled back with four straight points from Adriana Romano to level the score at six a piece. Nichols picked up their first lead of the game after a pair of free throws from Abrianna Vazquez gave the Bison a 14-12 lead in the first quarter. Roger Williams was able to level the score at 18-18, pulling away in the final 1:07 of the opening quarter to take a four point lead into the second frame.
The Hawks maintained a three point lead for most of the opening half of the quarter, but the Bison leveled the score at 31-31. Nichols then took a 37-33 lead with 4:02 remaining in the opening half, but the Hawks took the lead into the half after
Julia Ball (North Haven, Conn.) finished on a layup attempt with 14 seconds remaining.
The Hawks came out in the second half, with the offense clicking, scoring the first 11 points of the quarter, including a three by Coppola, taking a 12 point lead. Nichols cut the lead to eight in the quarter but could not get any closer as the Hawks expanded the Bison deficit back to 11 heading into the final frame.
In the fourth the Hawks were able to outscore the Bison 21-14 to close out the win.
Roger Williams (17-7, 12-4 CCC) will host No. 6 Nichols on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the CCC Tournament First Round. The winner will advance to the CCC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 22.
