Regis Women’s Hoop Wins Fourth Straight GNAC Game

WESTON, Mass. – Five players for Regis College scored at least nine points as the Pride earned their fourth straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference victory with a 67-51 win over Lasell University Wednesday night in a women's collegiate basketball contest at Higgins Court.

Arie Searcy (Santa Rosa, Calif.) led the Pride with 17 points, 13 of them in the first half, on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Mackenzie Emery (Standish, Maine) collected 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while fellow freshman Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) notched her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds to go along with five assists.

The Regis veterans also played a significant role in the victory, as Nikki Bitinaitis (Cromwell, Conn.) hit three three-pointers as she finished with 11 points and five assists, and fellow captain Taylor Iorfino (Monroe, Conn.) added nine points and seven rebounds. As a team, Regis shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field, dishing out 19 assists while committing just 14 turnovers.

The two teams exchanged baskets to open the game, but Regis took the lead for good thanks to a 9-0 scoring run. The Pride outscored the Lasers 10-4 in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the first quarter, capped by a Gonzalez three-pointer, to extend their advantage to 23-10 heading into the second quarter.

The second period saw the two teams once again exchanging points until the final two minutes, when Regis increased its lead to 18 at 44-26 with eight straight points. Bitinaitis and Shannon Kelley (Quincy, Mass.) hit consecutive three-pointers, and Marissa Prall (Hopkinton, Mass.) added a jumper to give the Pride an 18-point halftime advantage.

Bitinaitis hit a three-pointer early in the third quarter to give Regis its largest lead of the night at 47-28, but Lasell fought back, outscoring the Pride 12-9 in the third quarter to close to within 15 at 53-38. The Regis lead remained in double figures throughout the fourth quarter as the Lasers could not put any significant scoring runs together.

Amanda Ortiz led Lasell with 20 points and five steals, plus she pulled down nine rebounds, while Precious Montgomery notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Lasers shot just 26.2 percent (17-of-65) from the field, including 4-of-20 from behind the three-point line, and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the free throw line.

The Pride won the overall rebounding battle, 43-39, but Lasell was able to score 17 second chance points off 16 offensive boards. Regis scored 11 points off 11 Laser turnovers and also earned 13 fast break points while not allowing any transition points from Lasell.

Lasell (9-9, 2-4 GNAC) hosts conference leader Saint Joseph's College Saturday, Feb. 1, starting at 1 p.m.

Regis (10-9, 4-1 GNAC) continues its homestand Saturday, Feb. 1, by hosting University of Saint Joseph starting at 12 noon. The Pride will be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day Saturday with pregame and halftime activities.