CLINTON, N.Y. -- Salve Regina University women's basketball plays in the Hamilton College Tip-Off Classic against the host Continentals on Friday evening at the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. Hamilton edged Salve Regina 79-75 in a tightly contested non-conference matchup despite a double-double from Sofia Neary (Wayne, N.J.) with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Salve Regina got behind in the first quarter with Hamilton outscoring, 26-17. Salve Regina shot 38% overall and 35.7% from three, while converting 16-23 (69.6%) from the free-throw line.

Hamilton, meanwhile, shot 37.8% overall and 30.6% from three, with a higher reliance on the paint and fundamentals. Key scoring came from Taylor Lambo (19 pts, 7 rebs) and Kendall Harris (17 pts, 10 rebs), each providing balance inside and out.

The game featured frequent lead changes (4 times) and two ties, spotlighting how neither team could build a major cushion. Hamilton's bench contributed 17 points compared to Salve Regina's 12, giving them a slight edge in depth. Late in the fourth quarter, Hamilton held on to secure their first win of the season while handing Salve Regina their third consecutive loss.

FIRST QUARTER

• Hamilton jumped out to an early lead, scoring 26 points while holding Salve Regina to 17.
• Hamilton shot 45.5% (10-22) and hit 3 of 8 from three-point range.
• Salve Regina managed only 31.3% (5-16) and missed all three 3-point attempts in the frame.
• Momentum favored Hamilton early as they got off to a strong start.
• With 9:17 left, Hamilton's Hannah Bernstein tipped in a basket to get Hamilton on the board.
• At 7:23, Maggie Kernodle hit a three-pointer to extend Hamilton's lead to 5–3.
• Later at 5:49, Taylor Lambo made a layup (assist by Althea Hill) to push Hamilton to 12–5.
• Still in the quarter, Salve Regina cut into the lead with free throws: Emma Cochrane made two around 2:46 remaining, trimming Hamilton's lead to 22-14.
• This opening quarter saw Hamilton start strong, building a mid-single digit lead.

SECOND QUARTER

• Salve Regina responded, outscoring Hamilton 21-17 to tighten the game heading into halftime.
• Salve shot 50% in the quarter (7-14) including 2-4 from deep; Hamilton cooled to 31.8% (7-22) and made just 3 of 13 threes.
• Salve's surge brought them back into contention.
• Early (9:38) Salve's Sofia Neary hit a fast-break jumper to make it 19–26, giving Salve momentum. 
• Around 2:07, with Salve trailing, Marissa Forino made two free throws to bring them to 38-30.
• Just before halftime (1:57), Althea Hill drained a three-pointer for Hamilton making it 41-31, re-establishing a double-digit lead.
• The second quarter featured Salve mounting a push, but Hamilton answered to keep control.

THIRD QUARTER

• Both teams struggled, but Hamilton edged it 18-15 to maintain a small lead.
• Salve shot just 33.3% (7-21), Hamilton shot 36.4% (8-22).
• With neither team able to break away, the tense pace continued.
• The play–by–play shows very little scoring turnover in this quarter: no major spurt or swing documented on the publicly visible plays.
• Hamilton edged the period 18–15, quietly maintaining the margin built earlier.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Salve outscored Hamilton in the quarter (22-18), but Hamilton's earlier lead held up.
• Hamilton hit 4 of 9 from deep (44.4%) in the period; Salve hit 2 of 5 (40%) and converted 4 of 5 free throws (80%) in the frame.
• Hamilton's early cushion gave them just enough margin to finish with a 79-75 win.
• At ~4:48 left, Neary again for Salve made a layup in the paint to bring the score to 70-64, getting Salve within six.
• At ~2:15, Hannah Lauenstein hit two free throws for Salve, making it 73-72 — Salve now within one.
• Despite the push from Salve, Hamilton held on to secure the 79-75 win.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Hamilton 79, Salve Regina 75
Records: Salve Regina (0-3, 0-0 NEWMAC), Hamilton (0-1, 0-0 NESCAC)
History: These programs meet for the first time.

SUMMARY

• 1Q | . | CONTINENTALS 26, SEAHAWKS 17
• 2Q | . | CONTINENTALS 43, SEAHAWKS 38
• 3Q | . | CONTINENTALS 61, SEAHAWKS 53
• 4Q | . | CONTINENTALS 79, SEAHAWKS 75

NOTEWORTHY

• Sofia Neary led all players with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
• Neary now has 997 career points with her next three points poised to make her the 18th women's player to reach to 1,000-point milestone.

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina contnues in the Hamilton Tip-Off Classic with a matchup against St. John Fisher University on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) in Clinton, New York.