Clutch Free Throws Lift Women’s Basketball to 51-49 Win at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team matched a season-high with 18 made free throws on a season-best 26 attempts to secure a 51-49 victory at Salve Regina Tuesday evening.

Jaysa Cooper (Frisco, Texas.) scored a career-high 18 points and hauled in 10 rebounds. BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) finished with seven points, three boards and three assists. Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.) and Jasmine Mata (Santa Barbara, Calif.) each chipped in with six points off the bench.

After falling behind early, the visitors grabbed their first lead of the game with3:07 left to play in the first quarter on a jumper by Cooper, 7-6.

The hosts claimed a four-point advantage with under a minute remaining in the opening frame as Mikayla Roderick banked in a layup, 12-8.

A six-point outburst pushed Eastern Nazarene ahead by two with 6:31 to go in the second.

After Salve Regina's Meaghan Harden canned a trey to cut the margin to 18-17, the Lions closed out the second period on a 5-0 run to sport a 23-17 edge at intermission.

Eastern Nazarene shot 33.3% from the floor in the first half and drained one three-pointer on four chances. Salve Regina owned a field-goal percentage of 27.6% at the break to go with 33.3% shooting from beyond the arc.

Greer paced the Lions with six points at halftime while Cooper recorded six rebounds and five points.

After the two teams traded treys to start the second half, the Seahawks narrowed the gap to two midway through the third as Jillian Woodward converted a pair of free throws.

Salve Regina seized a 34-33 lead with 1:47 to go in the third quarter after Woodward poured in six consecutive points.

The two teams headed into the fourth frame level at 36-36.

The hosts built up a five-point edge 2:28 into the fourth on a three-pointer by Allison Esielionis, 43-38.

Eastern Nazarene regained a 44-43 edge on a lay-in by Cooper with 5:28 on the clock. Cooper added a pair of free throws to widen the gap to 46-43 with 4:43 remaining in regulation.

Salve Regina knotted the score at 47-47 before Cooper lifted the Lions ahead by two, 49-47, with a layup with 1:36 to go.

The Seahawks bounced back to tie the contest at 49-49 as Harden tossed in a layup with 15 seconds left to play.

On Eastern Nazarene's ensuing possession, Cooper drew a foul and sank both shots from the charity stripe to restore the visitors' lead to two points, 51-49.

Salve Regina's last-second heave from behind the arc rimmed out as the Lions escaped with a narrow victory.

The Lions finished with a field-goal percentage of 30.6% while shooting 33.3% from the perimeter. The Seahawks shot 29.7% from the floor on the night and 33.3% from long range.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene returns home to take on Wentworth February 6. The Lions will recognize the program's eight-member senior class prior to tip-off.