Women’s Hoops Endures 71-57 Loss to Roger Williams in CCC Quarterfinals

BRISTOL, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team dropped a 71-57 decision at Roger Williams in the Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinals Tuesday evening.

The No. 6 seed Lions conclude the season with a 14-12 overall record. The third-seeded Hawks improve to 17-9 on the year and move on to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament semifinals Thursday.

Senior Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.) led the visitors with 12 points off the bench. BreAnna Fraser (Henderson, Nev.) finished with 11 points while Jessica Franco (Phoenix, Ariz.) posted her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards. Elia Salazar (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The first quarter was closely-contest as eight lead-changes and four ties occurred. Eastern Nazarene favored a one-point edge heading into the second stanza after Greer banked in a jumper at the buzzer, 14-13.

The Lions built up a six-point lead with 5:07 to go in the second period as Fraser tossed in a layup, 23-17.

After the Hawks pulled two within three on a three-pointer by Angelica Ariola, Franco knocked down a jumper with 1:14 remaining to widen the gap to 31-26.

Eastern Nazarene clung to the five-point cushion at the midway point of the game.

The Lions shot 50% from the floor and 20% from long range in the first half. The Hawks sported a field-goal percentage of 29.4% at the break while draining 3-of-11 attempts from three-point territory.

A basket by Salazar less than three minutes into the third extended the guests' lead to 36-28.

Roger Williams cut the deficit to one with 3:26 to go in the period as Katie Lowerre converted the second of two free throws, 36-35.

Eastern Nazarene hung onto a narrow 43-41 edge heading into the fourth stanza.

The home side knotted the score at 43-43 on its first possession of the fourth quarter as Bridget Quilty sank a layup.

A 7-0 run swung the lead into Roger Williams' hands with 4:15 remaining, 54-48.

The Hawks' sealed the victory with 13 straight points from the charity stripe in the final 1:39 of regulation.

Eastern Nazarene finished with a field-goal percentage of 32.8% while connecting on 14.3% of its attempts from the perimeter. Roger Williams shot 34.4% from the floor and 28.6% from behind the arc on the night.