Pride Place Five in Double Figures, Defeat Bulldogs 86–73 in Regular-Season Finale

FRANKLIN, Mass. — The Regis College women's basketball team traveled to Dean College on Saturday afternoon for its regular-season finale, earning an 86–73 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory. With five players scoring in double figures, the Pride improved to 12–13 overall and 9–3 in conference play, soldfying the third seed in the GNAC standings. 

First-year Zoey Swanson paced the Pride with a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double, shooting 9-for-16 from the field. Madi Zancan followed with a double-double of her own, tallying 18 points and 14 boards, while Jordyn Striggles added 11 points, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc.

For the Bulldogs, Abigail Lacy poured in a game-high 29 points, and Jordan Ellis contributed a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double in the effort.

How it Happened

Swanson came out aggressive for the Pride, igniting the offense with eight straight points as part of her 11-point first quarter. Her early surge stretched the lead to 15-7 with 4:50 left in the period and set the tone for the rest of the frame. Sophia Pollini kept the momentum rolling, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to cap a dominant opening quarter and give the Pride a commanding 26-10 lead heading into the second.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Lacy sparked the Bulldogs to open the quarter, briefly giving them new life. But Kailyn Smith answered on the other end with a steady jumper that shifted the momentum right back. Her basket ignited a 5-0 Pride run, stretching the lead to 35-17 with 5:46 remaining. Lacy continued to battle, scoring six points during an 8-0 surge that pulled the Bulldogs within 10 with just under three minutes to play. Still, Striggles had the final say before the break, burying back-to-back shots from deep to send the Pride into halftime comfortably in front, 47-28.

Erika Marinelli wasted no time in the third quarter, knocking down a pair of three-pointers to help the Pride maintain a 55-38 cushion with 5:47 to go. The Bulldogs refused to fade, however, and a Lacy jumper trimmed the deficit to single digits with 2:16 left in the period. The Pride responded by locking in defensively, holding the Bulldogs without a field goal the rest of the quarter to carry a 61-50 advantage into the fourth.

A Kendrah Doane three-pointer brought the Bulldogs within eight - their smallest deficit since early in the game - but the Pride quickly regained control. Swanson and Zancan combined for nine key points to rebuild a 74-62 lead with under five minutes remaining. From there, a balanced offensive effort allowed the Pride to stay in command and close out an 86-73 victory over the Bulldogs.

Inside the Numbers

• All five of the Pride's starters recorded 10 or more points in this afternoon's victory. 
• Zoey Swanson recorded her second career double-double on the afternoon, setting new career highs in both points and rebounds.
• Kailyn Smith, the Pride's defensive anchor, tied her career high with 10 points, marking her highest scoring output of the season.
• The Pride's third-place finish marks the highest of the Samantha Crough coaching era and secures the program's first GNAC Quarterfinal home game since the 2022–23 season.

Up Next

The third-seeded Pride will host sixth-seeded Albertus Magnus on Wednesday, February 25 at 6 p.m. on Higgins Court for the quarterfinal round of the GNAC tournament.