BOSTON, Mass. -- Graduate student
Amanda Folan scored a career-high 36 points and dished out a game-high seven assists as fifth-seeded Salve Regina University women's basketball defeated fourth-seeded Emerson College, 93-87, in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) quarterfinal round at the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym in Boston on Wednesday evening. The Seahawks (15-10, 7-4 NEWMAC) advance to the semifinals where they'll face #9-ranked and top-seeded Smith College as the Pioneers were 70-62 winners over eighth-seeded Coast Guard tonight.
Bri Fongillo was the game's high scorer (38 points) for Emerson (16-10, 7-4 NEWMAC). Three other Seahawks joined Folan in double figures --
Sofia Neary (20),
Briana Neary (19), and
Ashley Rourke (14). Salve Regina shot 50 percent or better in all four quarters, jumping out to a 10-point lead after the first 10 minutes and carrying that same margin into the final period. Emerson never held a lead, but Jessie Silk (20) and Charlotte Levison (16) helped the Lions rally from a 16-point second-half deficit to tie the score on two occasions.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 93, Emerson 87
Records: Salve Regina (15-10, 7-4 NEWMAC), Emerson (16-10, 7-4 NEWMAC)
History: Salve Regina University and Emerson College meet for the 12th time and first in NEWMAC postseason.
Briana Neary scored a career-high 38 points on 14 field goals and 10-of-11 from the free throw line as Salve Regina edged Emerson, 92-87, in NEWMAC action at the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym in Boston last year. However, the game-high scorer was Bri Frongillo of the Lions with her 40 points on 13 field goals (five 3-pointers) and nine free throws. Neary matched her career-high in a previous game with 38 points including a school-record 16-for-16 from the free-throw line against Babson. Last month, Emerson won for the first time in the series history. Six different Lions hit from long range as Emerson made 16 3-pointers during an 87-72 victory and the visitors remained undefeated (4-0) in NEWMAC play while improving to 13-5 overall. Salve Regina was led by
Sofia Neary who finished with 20 points on 7-of-16 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the line. Salve Regina leads the series, 11-1.
SUMMARY
- 1Q | Amanda Folan's 3-pointer at 5:22 was her first make from behind the arc and keyed a 10-0 run for the Seahawks. Sofia Neary's layup on an assist from Olivia Martin put the Seahawks up 12 (28-16) with 30 seconds remaining in the period. Kaylin O'Meara had a bucket on the next Lions possession. Bri Frongillo and Jessie Silk both had eight points (and a pair of treys) for the Lions whil Folan led all players with 14 points. | SEAHAWKS 28, LIONS 18
- 2Q | Sofia Neary opened up the scoring with a short-range jumper outside the paint before Charlotte Levison matched her at the other end to start a 7-0 run for the Lions. Briana Neary scored on a jumper at 1:01 for a 14-point cushion (48-34). Frongillo cut the deficit to 12 before Folan made one of two free throws with Silk grabbing the rebound and banking a buzzer-beater from beyond half court. Briana Neary and Fongillo each led their teams with 11 points in the second quarter. | SEAHAWKS 21, LIONS 21
- 3Q | Ashley Rourke's 3-pointer at 5:20 gave Salve Regina its largest lead of the game (64-48). The Lions had cut that difference in half when O'Meara put in a fast break layup at the 1:27 mark. Rourke had the final basket of the quarter with a pull up jumper with 37 seconds to go. Rourke's nine points paced the visitors while Silk had eight for the hosts. | SEAHAWKS 23, LIONS 23
- 4Q | Emerson scored the first nine points of the period with Frongillo's 3-pointer at 8:33 trimming the score to 72-71 in favor of Salve Regina. Folan followed up a long range miss with a second chance driving layup. Frongillo drove the lane on the next Lions possession for another layup. Briana Neary worked the ball down low before finding her sister Sofia Neary for an easy lay in. Levison's trey pulled Emerson within one (77-76) and Sofia Neary made one of two free throws before the media timeout. Frongillo's two free throws at 3:48 tied the score for the first time since 3-3 in the opening quarter. Folan had a pull up jumper and assisted on Hope Halvarson's fast break layup before sinking a step back trey for a 7-0 Seahawk run. Frongillo's two free throws with 21 seconds left made it a one-point game, 88-87, but Folan iced the win for the Seahawks with five straight free throws down the stretch. Folan and Frongillo both had 12 points in the final quarter. | SEAHAWKS 21, LIONS 25
HIGHLIGHTS ON X
NOTEWORTHY
- Seahawks earn their first-ever victory in NEWMAC postseason.
- Amanda Folan made 12-of-25 from the floor including three 3-pointers and nine free throws to shatter her previous career-high (25 points) set last week at home against Coast Guard.
- Sofia Neary registered her 12th double-double of the year (20 points, game-high 13 rebounds) and was an efficient 9-of-11 from the floor.
- Briana Neary made half of her field goal attempts (6-of-12) while nearly joining her sister in the double-double feat (nine rebounds).
- Salve Regina had a 45-34 edge on the boards.
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina advances to the NEWMAC semifinal where the Seahawks will face the top-seeded and ninth-ranked Pioneers of Smith College on Friday evening in Northampton, Massachusetts.
