NEWPORT, R.I. -- Salve Regina University women's basketball rallied from a 17-point second-quarter deficit to defeat visiting Wheaton College, 71-63, in NEWMAC action at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Wednesday evening in Newport, Rhode Island.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 71, Wheaton 63
Records: Salve Regina (10-9, 3-3 NEWMAC), Wheaton (7-13, 3-3 NEWMAC)
History: These programs meet for the 18th time and second as fellow members of the NEWMAC. Salve Regina won the first-ever league meeting between the two last season in Norton, Massachusetts, as Briana Neary (21 points/four rebounds) and sister Sofia Neary combined to score 35 points and grab 20 rebounds in an 81-58 final. The Lyons won the last non-league meeting a year earlier, 61-52, also on the Emerson Gymnasium floor as Abby Fernandes and Greta Minos led their team with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Salve Regina now leads the series, 12-6.

SUMMARY

• 1Q | Madelin Duwe's layup in the final minute gave Wheaton its largest lead of the period, 19-13, before Sofia Neary and Amanda Folan notched a pair of fast break baskets in the closing seconds. Ashley Rourke hit one of two 3-pointers in the period while Sofia Neary led Salve Regina with six points. Briana Neary and Amanda Folan both had four points in the opening 10 minutes. | Lyons 19, Seahawks 17
• 2Q | Cheyenne Colbert started the scoring with a triple on the first Lyon possession as Wheaton went on a 17-2 run. Briana Neary's free throws with four seconds remaining got the Seahawks within a single-digit deficit at the break. Neary had eight of the Seahawks points who got buckets off the bench from Sabrina Lawless and Maeve Tullson. | Lyons 19, Seahawks 12
• 3Q | A 9-0 Seahawk run to start the second half was capped by an Amanda Folan layup with an assist from Marissa Forino to tie the score at 38-all. In essense, it was an 11-0 run that included Briana Neary's free throws at the end of the first half. Both teams scored 16 more points in the quarter that ended with the score still tied, 54-54. Briana Neary had 11 points on three field goals and 5-for-5 from the line. | Seahawks 25, Lyons 16
• 4Q | Kiki Walters had a pair of baskets in the opening minutes and Wheaton led by three (59-56) with 6:32 to go. Ashley Rourke's driving layup at 3:24 put the Seahawks ahead, 60-59, and Salve Regina stayed on top the rest of the way. Sofia Neary's basket with eight seconds left beat the shot clock buzzer and gave the Seahawks a double-digit lead before Greta Minos buried a trey as the clock read 0:00. | Seahawks 17, Lyons 9

NOTEWORTHY

• Salve Regina outscored Wheaton, 42-25, in the second half.
• Sofia Neary had a double-double in the second half alone (12 points, 11 rebounds) and finished the game with 18 points and 16 caroms.
• Briana Neary led all players with 23 points on six field goals and 11-for-11 from the line.
• For the second time in two weeks, Briana Neary goes perfect at the line for double-digits (16-for-16 against Babson on January 25, and tonight's 11-for-11).

---

QUOTABLE SEAHAWKS

"I am certainly pleased with our second half adjustments and effort.  And we did an excellent job from the free throw line, as well as defensively in the final minutes.
Bri was Bri in the post and at the line,and Ashley responded in the second half when we really needed her.  But it was Sofia REALLY stepping up when it mattered most: huge steals and blocks down the stretch.  
We have a tough one next vs. Wellesley, so it's an absolute must that we show up for BOTH halves on Saturday." -- Seahawk head coach Cori Hughes

---

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina continues its home stand when it welcomes Wellesley College on Saturday to the Rodgers Recreation Center for a 1 p.m. tip-off.