LAS VEGAS - Salve Regina University senior captain
Sofia Neary (Wayne, N.J.) posted a career high in points (35), including the game-winning basket, and a season high in rebounds (19) to lead her women's basketball team to a 78-77 overtime victory against Occidental College in the 15th Annual D3hoops.com Classic in the early game at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
There were 30 lead changes in the contest including eight in the five-minute extra session. Salve Regina (5-6, 0-0 NEWMAC) made six-of-seven field goals in the overtime with
Hannah Lauenstein (Delmar, N.Y.) driving for a pair of righty-lefty scoop layups and Neary connecting for two inside and two outside the paint. Trailing by one on two occasions in the final minute, Neary bounced in a fade away jumper at 18.8 on the clock for a 76-75 edge and then took the inbounds pass from
Deanna Linscott (Pembroke, Mass.) with 7.4 seconds left for the final score.
Emma Cochrane (Norton, Mass.) scored her career best 20 points which included her high mark of eight free throws.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 78, Occidental 77 [OT]
Records: Salve Regina (5-6, 0-0 NEWMAC), Occidental (4-4, 0-0 SCIAC)
History: First ever meeting between the two schools in any sport.
SUMMARY
- 1ST Q | The game opened as a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets early and neither side able to build a big advantage. Salve Regina outscored Occidental 22–19, with strong contributions from Sofia Neary and Emma Cochrane helping the Seahawks grab a slim lead. Occidental stayed close thanks to balanced scoring and kept the momentum within a possession throughout the quarter. The physical intensity set the tone for the competitive contest that followed. | SEAHAWKS 22, TIGERS 19
- 2ND Q | Occidental tightened its defense and slightly outpaced Salve Regina, scoring 16 points to the Seahawks' 13 in the second period. The Tigers were able to capitalize on a few key possessions to chip away at the deficit. Salve Regina, though still competitive, struggled to find consistent offense, leading to a small halftime lead for Occidental. Both teams entered the break with the game very much in reach. | TIGERS 16, SEAHAWKS 13
- 3RD Q | The third period remained closely contested as both teams continued trading buckets, with Occidental again outscoring Salve Regina 17–15. Neither team could pull away, and execution on both ends mattered more than a single big run. Salve Regina stayed within striking distance through productive offense from its top players and timely stops. The tight scoring reflected the evenly matched nature of the game. | TIGERS 17, SEAHAWKS 15
- 4TH Q | Salve Regina responded in the fourth with a 15–13 scoring edge to force overtime, showcasing resilience in clutch moments. Key offensive plays and defensive stops helped the Seahawks keep the game level and eventually push it beyond regulation. Both teams fought vigorously, trading momentum and leads late. The period set up a dramatic extra session with everything still undecided. | SEAHAWKS 15, TIGERS 13
- OT 1 | In the overtime period, Salve Regina once again held a narrow advantage, outscoring Occidental 13–12 to secure the 78–77 win. The tight extra session demonstrated the competitive spirit of both teams, with every possession carrying significant weight. Clutch free throws and execution down the stretch proved decisive for the Seahawks. The game ultimately came down to a one-point margin in a thrilling finish. | SEAHAWKS 13, TIGERS 12
NOTEWORTHY
- Salve Regina's Sofia Neary has nine double doubles in her first 11 games.
- Neary's 19 rebounds were the third-most by an individual in the 15-year history of the D3hoops.com Classic.
- Neary was named to the All-Tournament Team.
D3hoops.com Classic Conversation: Sofia Neary
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina returns to Newport for a home contest with Johnson & Wales University at the Rodgers Recreation Center at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 2, on
FloCollege.
