NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University senior point guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) scored a game-high 20 points to power the Seahawk women's basketball team past the visiting Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) meeting in Newport.

Birrell opened the scoring with a jumper in the first minute. Wentworth responded with a 6-0 run keyed by two hoops from junior forward Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.). With the visitors leading by three (7-4) following a Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.) free throw at 14:19, Birrell went on her own 7-0 run with three baskets including a 3-pointer.

Kerr and senior Jordan Biggar (Beverly, Mass.) combined for a 6-2 run to tie the game at 13-all at 8:53.

Seahawk senior Sarah Averill (Newfields, N.H.) and Kerr traded jumpers on their team's next respective possessions. Salve Regina then opened a nine-point lead with five points coming from freshman Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.). Birrell's layup at 4:25 made it a 24-15 score.

Wentworth (10-12; 5-10 CCC) got as close as five (24-19) following baskets from Camara and Kerr at 2:59, but Salve Regina (13-9; 10-5 CCC) closed the half with four points from junior forward Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.).

Pendergast continued where she left off in the first half and helped the Seahawks start the second on a 20-5 run to build a 48-24 advantage. Biggar and Salve Regina's Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) exchange 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.

Leading 54-29 at 8:35 in the second, Birrell scored seven points during a 13-0 Seahawk run. Twice she had layups after stealing the ball from the Leopards.

Salve Regina outscored the visitors off the bench, 19-4, which included baskets in the final eight minutes from senior Allison Pigoga (Exeter, R.I.), junior Lisa Bucci (Irvington, N.Y.), sophomore Cortney Rosenlund (Whitinsville, Mass.), and freshman Madelyn Brackett (Coopersville, Mich.).

Pendergast finished with a career-high 15 rebounds and her second double-double of the season (13 points). Harden had double-figure scoring (15 points) for the 18th time in 21 games. Birrell added four assists, three rebounds and eight steals.

Kerr's 15 and Biggar's 13 paced the Leopards who were held to 32 percent shooting from the floor.

Wentworth hosts Roger Williams on Saturday while Salve Regina travels to Gordon, weather permitting.