Women’s Hoop Cruises to GNAC Victory

WESTON, Mass. ­– The Regis College women's basketball team defeated University of Saint Joseph, 68-31, Saturday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference game at Higgins Court.

Shannon Kelley (Quincy, Mass.) led the Pride with 13 points as she hit three three-pointers, while Arie Searcy (Santa Rosa, Calif.) finished with 11 points. Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) ended up with eight points, five rebounds, and three steals, Mackenzie Emery (Standish, Maine) collected seven points, four rebounds, and three assists, and Nikki Bitinaitis (Cromwell, Conn.) added six points, six rebounds, and six assists without committing a turnover.

Regis opened a 13-1 lead in the first quarter as USJ did not make a field goal until there was 1:46 remaining in the period. Kasey Britton-Doucette (New Boston, N.H.) hit two free throws in the final minute of the quarter to give the Pride a 15-4 lead.

The Pride extended their advantage in the second quarter to 31-9 by scoring 13 unanswered points. Erin Leahy (Hanson, Mass.) made a layup in the final seconds of the half as Regis took a 37-12 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half saw the Pride continued to control the action, outscoring the Blue Jays 31-19 in the final 20 minutes of the contest. Saint Joseph committed 25 turnovers, leading to 31 points for the Pride.

As a team, Regis shot 35 percent (21-of-60) from the field, including 5-of-22 from behind the three-point line, and 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the free throw line. The Pride won the rebounding battle, 44-40, including 21 offensive rebounds leading to 18 second chance points, and Regis committed only 10 turnovers while dishing out 15 assists.

Saint Joseph (9-11, 1-5 GNAC) heads to Newton, Mass., to face Lasell University Tuesday, Feb. 4, starting at 6 p.m.

Regis (11-9, 5-1 GNAC) concludes its four-game homestand with a conference matchup against Colby-Sawyer College Tuesday, Feb. 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at Higgins Court.