REGIS COLLEGE SLOWS CHARGERS TO WIN IN TCCC OPENER

Weston, Mass.-Regis College (7-6, 1-0 TCCC) earned its first The Commonwealth Coast Conference win Saturday by defeating Colby-Sawyer College (3-10, 0-1 TCCC) 75-73.

"Getting this first win is crucial," said Regis head coach Julie Plant. " Colby-Sawyer is an extremely talented team," Page continued.

Senior Jessica Page (Quincy, Mass.) had a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds for Regis College.

"Jessie was hitting three's, and driving to the rim," Plant remarked. "She played outstanding."

Page was 7-of-16 from the field, and her two clutch free throws to give Regis the lead late in the game spurred the Pride.

Page was 75 percent (6-of-8) from the free-throw line on the day.

Colby-Sawyer senior Terri Duffy (Marshfield, Mass.) led all-scorers with 25 points, and grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds.

Plant said of Duffy's play, "She is a dominant post player."

In 35 minutes of play Duffy shot 59 percent (10-of-17) from the field, knocked down two three-pointers, and went 3-of-5 (60 percent) from the free-throw line.

"Duffy has range, she can hurt you from all areas of the floor," said Plant.

Two other Chargers would tally double figures; Regis College had just one other player score double digits.

Colby-Sawyers Taylor DeSanty (North Adams, Mass.) and Caitlin Bullet (Millbury, Mass.) scored 15 and 10 points respectively. Bullet was 44 percent shooting from the field, and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

Regis' Meghan Tobin (Quincy, Mass.) had a season-high 16 points in 28 minutes. She shot 57 percent (4-of-7) from behind the three-point line for Regis.

"Meg stepped up and shot the ball well," Plant retorted.

The Pride maintained a consistent advantage over Colby-Sawyer for much of the first half, with Regis' greatest lead being a 12-point (17-5) difference just 5:00 minutes into the game.

Duffy sparked a steady chip into Regis' lead, cutting it to just six points with a three-pointer from the left wing.

The two teams would mark the third tie of the first half with Brittany White (Dorchester, Mass.) hitting a jumper from the baseline.

White finished with eight points. DeSanty would answer with a jumper of her own, but two made free throws by Page gave Regis the 42-40 lead going into intermission.

Amy Hebert (Keene, N.H.) would give Colby-Sawyer a two-point advantage with 7:14 remaining in the game. Regis' Caitlin Luquet (Walnut Creek, Cailf.) would return the good basket with a three-pointer, giving Regis the lead at 66-65.

Colby-Sawyer fought hard to regain the lead with less than 3:30 remaining. Up by five, the Chargers continued its offensive attack.

"We did not execute our defensive plan," said Plant. Regis' offense from the first half reappeared late in the game when Bianca Flores (Dorchester, Mass.) sank a game changing three-pointer to give Regis the one point lead.

A shooting foul committed by Colby-Sawyer's DeSanty would send Regis' Page to the line to shoot two free throws, which she converted to a 75-73 win for the Pride.

Regis College will host TCCC opponent Salve Regina Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Colby-Sawyer will take on New England College on the same day, also at 5:30 p.m.