NEWPORT, R.I. -- Salve Regina University women's basketball matched the visitors from the University of Saint Joseph in two quarters and outscored the Blue Jays in the other two to take a 77-55 victory in non-league action at the Rodgers Recreation Center in Newport, Rhode Island, on Wednesday evening.
Briana Neary led all players with 26 points on 11-of-20 from the floor and four free throws.
Sofia Neary posted a double-double with her career-high 22 rebounds and 15 points.
Amanda Folan had three field goals from long range and finished with 11 points.
Hope Halvarson highlighted the triumph with seven steals.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 71, Saint Joseph 55
Records: Salve Regina (5-3, 0-0 NEWMAC), Saint Joseph (2-3, 0-0 GNAC)
History: These programs meet for the fourth time and only one point separates the two from the previous three meetings. With last season's 79-54 win in West Hartford, Saint Joseph has a 225 to 224 edge in scoring and a 2-1 lead in the series. Despite outscoring the opposition in two of four quarters, Salve Regina had a low of eight points in the third quarter during the same period Saint Joseph enjoyed a 31-point output at the James A. Calhoun Center.
Briana Neary and
Ashley Rourke led the Seahawks with 13 points apiece.
SUMMARY
- 1Q | Olivia Heslin's field goal at 5:56 gave Saint Joseph its only lead of the game (8-7) but that lasted only 24 seconds. Sofia Neary had her second second chance bucket of the period after Briana Neary grabbed an offensive rebound and fed her sister. Amanda Folan had a pair of treys. Sofia Neary grabbed six rebounds. | Seahawks 17, Blue Jays 13
- 2Q | Both teams scored 14 points in the period. The Seahawks generated 10 of their 14 points off six turnovers by the Blue Jays. Hope Halvarson had four points and four steals. Sofia Neary was on the floor for just over five minutes and had a plus-eight impact. Halvarson had a two-play sequence where she scored on a fast break, assisted by Amanda Folan, and then intercepted a pass over midcourt and fed a fast-break pass to Olivia Martin who drained a 3-pointer. | Seahawks 31, Blue Jays 27
- 3Q | Salve Regina scored the first eight points of the period including a put back by Olivia Martin after a Hope Halvarson steal. Maya Slisz had a corner trey that started a 7-0 run for the Blue Jays. The Seahawks then ended the period with a 13-2 run capped by a baseline jumper from Marissa Forino. Briana Neary scored 10 of her team's 21 points. | Seahawks 52, Blue Jays 36
- 4Q | Both teams scored 19 points in the period and once again Briana Neary had double digits (10 points). Taylor Verboven scored eight points for the visitors. Sofia Neary grabbed nine of her career-high 22 rebounds. | Seahawks 71, Blue Jays 55
NOTEWORTHY
- Briana Neary led all players with 26 points on 11-of-20 from the floor and four free throws.
- Sofia Neary posted a double-double with her career-high 22 rebounds and 15 points.
- Amanda Folan had three field goals from long range and finished with 11 points.
- Hope Halvarson highlighted the triumph with seven steals.
QUOTABLE SEAHAWKS
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina tips off against Rivier University on Friday night in the Wesleyan University Tournament.
