NEWPORT, R.I. -- Shooting 60 percent from the floor (9-of-15) in the third quarter, Salve Regina University women's basketball rallied from down 13 to defeat Eastern Connecticut State University, 60-50, on Tuesday evening at the Rodgers Recreation Center.
The Warriors (0-3) made six 3-pointers in the first half, three in each quarter, while holding the Seahawks (2-3) to just nine points in each quarter, to lead 26-18 at intermission.
Marissa Nudd (Colchester, Conn.) led all players with 13 points on 4-of-14 from the floor including three 3-pointers and a pair of free throws. Nudd also had eight rebounds for the Warriors, four on each end.
Sofia Neary (Wayne, N.J.) managed seven first-half points to lead the Seahawks.
Maddie Topa (New Hartford, Conn.) made a 3-pointer at 8:05 of the third quarter for the largest Warrior lead of the game (33-20).
Hannah Lauenstein (Delmar, N.Y.) drained a triple as Salve Regina went on a 21-4 run to close out the period with the lead. Lauenstein and Neary both had eight points in the quarter.
Sophie Hjerpe (Northborough, Mass.) got the scoring started in the final quarter and
Emma Cochrane (Norton, Mass.) followed with a steal and a fast break layup as the Seahawks opened the period on an 8-2 run for their largest lead of the game. Nudd's triple at 5:15 cut the Warrior deficit to five (51-46) before the Seahawks finished with a 9-4 run to win by a double-digit margin.
High scorers and rebounders:
Eastern Connecticut
- High scorer: Marissa Nudd — 18 points (6-23 FG) and 12 rebounds.
- Second scorer: Liv Cassesse — 11 points, 8 rebounds.
- Top rebounder: Marissa Nudd — 12 rebounds (4 ORB + 8 DRB).
- Next in rebounds: Liv Cassesse — 8 rebounds (0 ORB + 8 DRB).
Salve Regina
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 60, Eastern Connecticut State 50
Records: Salve Regina (2-3, 0-0 NEWMAC), Eastern Connecticut State (0-3, 0-0 LEC)
History: After winning two in a row, the Seahawks now are 2-8 in the all-time series. Last year was Salve Regina's first win in the series that started in 1982. The previous meeting before last year was in 2007, ending a five-year string of matchups. The closest margin of defeat for Salve Regina had been an eight-point loss in 2005 (69-61 in Willimantic).
SUMMARY
- 1Q | Marissa Nudd had 11 points in the first 10 minutes while her numerical counterpart (#5), Sofia Neary, paced the Seahawks with five points. Salve Regina shot under 27 percent from the floor (4-of-15). | Warriors 15, Seahawks 9
- 2Q | It got worse for the Seahawks offensively as they made only two of 18 (11.1 percent) from the floor while scoring nine points. Liz McGuirl, Frankie Spadorcia, and Emma Cochrane each made a free throw. Liv Cassesse and Katelyn Novak both made a long distance shot for the Warriors. | Warriors 11, Seahawks 9
- 3Q | Maddie Topa made a 3-pointer at 8:05 of the third quarter for the largest Warrior lead of the game (33-20). Hannah Lauenstein drained a triple as Salve Regina went on a 21-4 run to close out the period with the lead.. | Seahawks 23, Warriors 11
- 4Q | Sophie Hjerpe got the scoring started in the final quarter and Emma Cochrane followed with a steal and a fast break layup as the Seahawks opened the period on an 8-2 run for their largest lead of the game. | Seahawks 19, Warriors 13
NOTEWORTHY
- Sofia Neary led all players with her fourth double-double in the first five games (21 points, 13 rebounds).
- Despite out-scoring the Warriors in the third (23-11), the Seahawks made only three of eight from the free throw line.
- Hannah Lauenstein and Emma Cochrane both finished with 10 points.
- Marissa Nudd (18) and Liv Cassesse (11) topped the Warriors in scoring.
- Nudd also had a double double with a dozen boards.
QUOTABLE SEAHAWKS
"Well, we showed up in the second half. We were kind of stagnant in the first half. We didn't take great shots and therefore we didn't make them, and gave up some threes and they were hot from there. But we made a couple of adjustments defensively and the lid came off the rim so we started making some shots. It was a huge win, it was a great comeback ... showed a lot of resilience." -- Seahawk head coach Cori Hughes
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ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina plays against the host Golden Bears in the opener of the Western New England University - Hampton Inn Holiday Classic on Friday night in Springfield, Massachusetts (6 p.m.).
