Salve wins sixth straight; 62-39 over Gordon

NEWPORT, R.I. - Freshman Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) scored a team-high 16 points in 19 minutes on 7-of-8 shooting from the field as Salve Regina University women's basketball defeated visiting Gordon College, 62-39, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Sophomore guard Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) gave the visitors their only lead of the game when she sank a turnaround jumper on Gordon's first possession. Seahawk senior Sarah Averill (Newfields, N.H.) started a mini 6-0 run with her jumper the next minute which was followed by jumpers from sophomore Brianna Del Valle (Belchertown, Mass.) and Harden.

After a 3-pointer from junior Lauren Kranyak (Locust Grove, Va.), Salve Regina senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) scored the next two baskets. Kranyak launched another successful trey before Salve Regina exploded for eight points in 1:17, building a double-digit lead by the 10:18 mark.

Cortney Rosenlund (Whitinsville, Mass.) scored two baskets during another 8-0 run for the Seahawks who were leading 26-10 with 4:52 left in the first half. Taylor Windwer (Milton, Mass.) sank a jumper at the buzzer after Del Valle stole the ball in the back court, and Salve Regina went into the break up 35-20.

Salve Regina (7-6; 4-2 CCC) had a similar 26-10 run in the first 14 minutes of the second for its largest lead of the game, 31 points (61-30).

At the 13:14 mark of the second half, Birrell intercepted a Fighting Scots pass just as the ball crossed midcourt and took it all the way for an uncontested layup. The steal was the senior's 327th of her career eclipsing the previous school record 326 set by Jill St. Germain (1993-97). Birrell added another steal on the next Gordon possession before finishing with 11 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.

Del Valle had a 10-point, seven-rebound effort for the Seahawks who won for the sixth straight time and extended their win streak over the Scots to 11 games. Gordon (2-12; 0-7 CCC), losing for the 12th straight game after a 2-0 start on the season, outrebounded the home team (45-to-39). 

Kranyak finished with a game-high 17 points and Kratche had 13 points. Junior guard Clancey Adams (Simsbury, Conn.) led all players with 10 rebounds.

Salve Regina plays at Wentworth on Tuesday while Gordon hosts its nearby rival, Endicott, the same night.