REGIS CLOSES OUT PERFECT NECC REGULAR SEASON

WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College women's basketball team wrapped up its third consecutive undefeated regular season in the New England Collegiate Conference with a 62-41 win over visiting Mitchell College on Wednesday evening at Higgins Court.

The Pride (21-4, 18-0 NECC), who will host the upcoming NECC Tournament Semifinals and Championship games next Friday and Saturday as the No. 1 seed, were led by junior guard Emilee Marro's (Bedford, N.H.) game-high 17 points and classmate Janaya Bradley's (New Haven, Conn.) double-double of ten points and 13 rebounds.

Both teams struggled to generate much offense for the better part of the first half, as Mitchell and Regis combined for just ten points through the halfway mark of the first stanza. The Pride shot just 26.9% (7-for-26) from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play, while the Mariners were 7-for-29 (24.1%).

Bradley finally brought the host squad to double figures at the 8:58 mark after sinking a pair of free-throws to make the score 10-4 in favor of the Pride. Freshman Caycee Williams (Torrington, Conn.) and classmate Samantha Ryan (Quaker Hill, Conn.) sank a three and a layup for the Mariners, respectively, before Marro knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead to seven points.

Freshman guard Jessica Sheppard (West Hartford, Conn.) finally brought Mitchell into the double digits with 5:12 left when she hit a layup, but a 5-0 run by Regis, courtesy of a Bradley trey and a pair of free-throws by freshman Mikayla Murphy (Attleboro, Mass.), stretched the lead to ten with 3:24 on the clock.

A Diamond Thomas (Hartford, Conn.) layup and Toshina Jessamy (Hartford, Conn.) three-pointer made the score 21-16 before a Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) jumper sent the Pride into the locker room with a 23-16 lead.

At halftime, the Pride recognized Ramonas as part of Senior Night. Ramonas, who has had a stellar four year career for the Crimson & Gold, will go down as one of the all-time scoring leaders in Regis history.

After trading a Marro layup and a Jessamy three-pointer to open up the second half, the Pride erupted for 12 straight points en route to an 18-4 run to extend the score to 43-23 by the 10:08 marker. Six different members contributed offensively for Regis during that eight minute stretch, led by five points from freshman Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) and four from Ramonas.

Later on, Regis doubled up on the Mariners, 50-25 with 6:27 remaining after a pair of good free-throws by Ramonas to give the Pride their largest lead of the night.

Ryan scored eight of her team-leading ten points in the second half to pace Mitchell, who did their best to chip away at the lead. Ryan knocked down three consecutive points to bring her team within 21 in the final minute, but sophomore Michaela Maguire (Revere, Mass.) answered by hitting two free-throws. Sheppard sank a jumper to close out the game for a 62-41 final score.

Ramonas finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and two assists for the Pride, while Hawkesworth added 11 points, nine rebounds, and two steals.

Ryan grabbed seven rebounds in the losing effort for the Mariners, while Jessamy (four rebounds) and Kate Mulloy (Gardner, Mass.) pitched in with eight points apiece.

Mitchell (15-9, 15-3 NECC) will await its postseason fate when NECC regular season games are completed this weekend.