PREVIEW: REGIS COLLEGE LOOKING FOR CONFERENCE WINS IN UPCOMING MATCH-UPS

WESTON, Mass.—Regis College women’s basketball will enter this week coming off a 22-point win on Saturday. The team will host Gordon on Wednesday before traveling to nearby nemesis Endicott on Saturday.

Saturday’s win over conference opponent Wentworth improved Regis’ overall record to 10-9 and gives the Pride a sixth place 4-3 conference record. Against Colby College (Jan. 25) senior Sarah McNult grabbed her 1,000^th career rebound, and would go on to finish the game with 19 points and 19 rebounds.

She was quiet in the two games following, but should have huge games versus upcoming opponents. Regis College has won four of its last six contests, and shooting 38.5 percent from the field. The team has also shot 63 percent at the free-throw line. Junior Stephanie Crawford has a team-high 78.2 free-throw percentage, and contributing 13.7 points per game.

Defensively, Claire Ramonas has the team’s second highest total in steals (33), and has the second highest point total with 198 (10.4 PPG).

When it comes to sports no team should be taken likely. Gordon will enter Higgins Court with the conference’s worst record of 1-6, and 2-17 overall. This season Gordon is scoring just 43.1 PPG, while allowing opponents to score just under 58 PPG.

Gordon is typically even in rebounds as they average 38.3, and its opponents manage 38 rebounds per game. Kayla Pacheco is averaging 11.4 PPG, a team-high, and shooting well from free throw line with a 73.7 free throw percentage. Teammates Sara Schwanke and Lauren Kranyak have contributed 201 and 157 total points this season. The pair is averaging 10.5 PPG and 8.3 PPG, respectively.

Regis College will have a harder time versus Endicott on Saturday, as the Gulls are 13-4 overall and undefeated (7-0) in conference play. Ashley Vitale, a dual position player at the guard and forward positions, is a returning All-TCCC Third Team member from the 2009-10 season, and was recognized as a conference player of the week earlier this season.

Vitale is averaging 15.5 PPG, which ranks her second on the team, while teammate Ashley Wright holds the top spot with 18.5 PPG. Vitale is shooting well from behind the free-throw line (.754), and playing decent defense with 39 steals. She also leads the team in blocks.

Wright has been an offensive power from behind the three-point line where she is shooting 39.3 percent, and better than 75.4 percent at the free throw line. In the programs 17 games Brittany Kelleher has grabbed 94 defensive rebounds, and a team high 145 total boards.

Regis College defeated Endicott last season to reach the conference championship. Each year these two programs have met has been a battle. Expect no different this time around. Against Gordon, Regis College should have a solid all-around performance. The team needs to show poise, maintain the ball, and convert turnovers into points.