Women’s Basketball Stumbles at Salve Regina, 72-59

NEWPORT, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene women's basketball team absorbed a 72-59 loss at Salve Regina Wednesday evening.

The decision pushes the Lions to 6-16 on the year and 2-13 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Seahawks improve to 11-11 overall and 9-6 in league contests with the win.

Nicole Greer (Odenton, Md.) poured in a team-high 14 points while gathering nine boards in the game. Christina Saint-Pierre (Lantana, Fla.) finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Ruby Leon (Fairfield, Calif.) notched eight points, five rebounds and a pair of assists. Abbie Tonello (Bourne, Mass.) and Jasmine Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) each recorded six points and six boards.

Eastern Nazarene captured a 9-4 lead 4:10 into the tilt as Saint-Pierre completed a three-point play with a free throw.

Salve Regina netted five unanswered points to level the score at 9-9 with 15 minutes left to play.

The hosts claimed a 23-19 advantage on a free throw by Marissa Prendergast with 9:49 remaining in the period.

The Lions battled back to knot the game at 23-23 with 7:44 to go in the half as Greer drained the visitors' lone three-pointer on the night.

Eastern Nazarene established a five-point lead on a jumper by Leon with 2:39 on the clock, 35-30.

Back-to-back treys put the Seahawks ahead 36-35 with two minutes left to play in the half.

Saint-Pierre and Johnson each deposited buckets in the final 1:15 to give the Lions a 39-36 halftime edge.

Greer paced Eastern Nazarene at the break with 10 points and four rebounds. Saint-Pierre tallied nine points and three boards in the opening 20 minutes.

The Lions shot 48.5% from the floor in the first frame and 25% from outside the three-point arc. The Seahawks boasted a field-goal percentage of 35.3% at the break, including a 4-for-5 clip from long range.

Salve Regina opened the second stanza with three consecutive baskets to capture a 42-39 lead.

Eastern Nazarene reclaimed a one-point advantage with 13 minutes to go on a lay-up by Greer, 47-46.

The Seahawks benefited from a 12-2 run to take a 58-49 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

The Lions narrowed the margin to four points with 5:44 to go as Tonello banked in a lay-up, 62-58.

The hosts closed out the game with a 10-1 run spanning the final 5:30 en route to locking up their first win in three games.

The Lions connected on 40% of their field-goal attempts in the game, including just one trey on six efforts. The Seahawks shot 38.2% from the floor on the evening and 40% from beyond the arc.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns home February 15 to host Western New England in a pivotal conference clash.