Roger Williams Rallies Past Mount Holyoke, 69-64
BRISTOL, R.I. (Dec. 1, 2007) - The Roger Williams University women's basketball team overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to earn a 69-64 victory over non-conference foe Mount Holyoke College this afternoon in its home opener. Four players reached double digits in the scoring column for the Hawks (2-2), who drilled ten three-pointers. It was their first second of the 2007-08 campaign. The Lyons dropped to 1-5 on the year.
Senior Caitlyn Leone (Irvington, N.Y./Hackley) came off the bench to lead Roger Williams with 13 points in just 13 minutes played. The forward made 4-of-5 shots from the field and was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. She also converted both of her free throw attempts. The Hawks also received a boost from junior guard Jacqueline Criss (Westwood, Mass./Westwood), who finished with 13 points and five assists. Classmates Casey Anderson (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) and Heather Babin (Danvers, Mass./Salem) delivered 11 points apiece. The forwards collected nine and seven rebounds, respectively.
Four players delivered double digit scoring efforts for Mount Holyoke as well. Sophomore Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) continued her strong play for the Lyons. The forward piled up a double-double on 19 points and 17 rebounds, both game highs. It was her fifth double-double of the season and 11th of her career. Junior guard Katie Austen (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) contributed ten points, seven rebounds and a game-best six assists. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) and senior forward Marisa Barone (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) chipped in with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
The Lyons dominated the first half, leading by as many as 17 points. They shot 55.6% (15-27) before the break and took a 36-23 cushion into the locker room. Barone led all scorers with ten points at the intermission.
Mount Holyoke continued to control play in the early stages of the second half, but Roger Williams sliced the lead to six points (45-39) following back-to-back three-pointers by Criss and first year guard Carly Spagnola (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook). The Lyons responded with a 5-0 run to push their lead back to 11 points (50-39) at the 11:58 mark.
From there, momentum swung in favor of Roger Williams. The Hawks chipped away at the lead until finally knotting things up at 58-58 on a trifecta by Leone with 3:44 remaining in regulation. Leone knocked down another trey on the hosts ensuing possession to put her team in front for the first time since the 16:25 mark of the first half. The game was deadlocked at 61-61 with 2:10 to go, but Roger Williams scored six straight points to put things out of reach.
Mount Holyoke (1-5, 0-0 NEWMAC) will return to action on Tuesday, when it travels to Nichols College for a non-league tilt beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Game Statistics
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