Pride Women’s Hoop Wins GNAC Opener, 69-55

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College shot 60 percent from the field in the first quarter, taking the lead and never relinquishing it on the way to a 69-55 victory over Dean College Wednesday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) notched her third double-double over the last four games, leading the Pride with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) scored 11 of her season-high 13 points in the first half, plus she dished out six assists, Marissa Prall (Hopkinton, Mass.) also scored 13 points to go along with four steals, and Valerie Whalen (Stoughton, Mass.) added a career-high 10 points along with six rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

After the teams exchanged baskets to open the game, Doherty hit a three-pointer two minutes into the contest to give the Pride the lead for good. Regis put together a 15-2 scoring run over a four-minute span to extend its advantage to 20-6, and a layup by Whalen in the final seconds of the period gave the Pride a 23-11 lead heading into the second quarter.

Dean scored five straight points early in the second period on a three-pointer by Tori Viau and a jumper from AJ Sidbury, but the Pride answered with a three-pointer from Doherty and a basket by Erica Regan (Sterling, Mass.). Gonzalez hit a three-pointer and converted a traditional three-point play late in the period to give Regis a 38-20 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the third quarter, but the Pride responded with eight unanswered points, capped by a three-pointer from Shannon Kelley (Quincy, Mass.). The two teams exchanged points throughout the remainder of the third quarter and the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, with Dean closing the game on a 12-3 scoring run, led by Tori Andrewski with all seven of her points.

Alexah Potter was held to two points in the first half, but she finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Shania Springer finished with 11 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, including 5-of-13 from behind the three-point line.

For the game, the Pride shot 38.6 percent (27-of-70) from the field, including 7-of-24 from behind the three-point line, and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the free throw line. Regis won the rebounding battle, 43-34, including 20 offensive rebounds, plus the Pride scored 29 points off 24 Dean turnovers.

Regis College (2-4, 1-0 GNAC) hosts Elms College Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 2 p.m., two hours earlier than originally scheduled. Dean College (2-3, 0-1 GNAC) hosts University of Saint Joseph Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.