Roger Williams downs Salve Regina, 58-48

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) scored a game-high 23 points to lead visiting Roger Williams University women's basketball (18-7; 14-4 CCC) to a 58-48 victory over Salve Regina University in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) regular season finale for both teams.

Salve Regina (15-10; 12-6 CCC) celebrated its three seniors - Sarah Averill (Newfields, N.H.), Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.), and Allison Pigoga (Exeter, R.I.) - before the contest. The Seahawks, now 45-11 versus the Hawks in the all-time series, suffer their third straight loss to their in-state rivals.

Pigoga started the scoring with a left-handed hook in the lane before Roger Williams scored seven straight points with two baskets from senior Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) and a 3-pointer from Bovee.

Junior Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.) sank four straight free throws and freshman Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.) added a layup to regain the lead, 8-7, at 14:40.

The visitors then had a 10-0 run featuring two Bovee layups. Junior Ari Renwick (Westwood, Mass.) had a jumper and two free throws and two more from the charity stripe came courtesy of freshman Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.). Roger Williams had its largest lead, 23-13, following successive 3-pointers from senior Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.) at 6:06.

Salve Regina finished the first half with a 12-5 run with Birrell contributing seven of those points. Averill had a jumper and freshman Madelyn Brackett (Coopersville, Mich.) added a layup as the Seahawks were within three at the break, 28-25.

Bovee and Lanieri both had layups at the outset of the second half as Roger Williams led by seven, 32-25. During a 16-5 run for Salve Regina, Pendergast had half of her team's points. Classmate Lisa Bucci (Irvington, N.Y.) scored a layup at 9:02 following a steal and assist from Pendergast and the Seahawks led by four, 41-37.

Bovee had two 3-pointers during a 10-2 run for Roger Williams as the Hawks took the lead for good, 44-43, following Bovee's jumper at 4:55. Lanieri's jumper at 2:23 was the final field goal for either team as both finished scoring from the free throw line.

Lanieri led all players with 15 rebounds and added 11 points along with Renwick. Pendergast topped Salve Regina scorers with 14 points while Birrell finished with 13 for the Seahawks.

Defending conference champion Salve Regina clinches the No. 3 seed and will host first-round action in the CCC Championships starting on Tuesday evening. Roger Williams wins its fourth straight and already had clinched the No. 2 seed. The Hawks are enjoying their best season since 2000-01.