NEWPORT, R.I. (Jan. 20) -- Junior forward Erin Phillips scored 10 of her team-high 18 points in the second half as Salve Regina University women's basketball pulled away from Nichols College for a 58-52 win in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

A layup by Phillips with 4:28 left in the first period gave the Seahawks their largest lead of the game (21-13), but the Bison finished the first half on a 7-0 run which included a 3-pointer from junior guard Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.).

The teams traded leads eight times in the second half with freshman guard Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.) pushing the visitors ahead for the first time at the 13:46 mark (30-29). Her counterpart on the Salve Regina roster, freshman guard Kaitlyn Birrell, keyed a 9-3 run with a pair of layups under 10 minutes remaining for a seven-point lead (44-37).

Lindgren responded with a pair of 3-pointers and the Bison were back on top (46-45). The game was knotted at 50-50 when senior guard Lyndsey Bennett (North Brookfield, Mass.) scored Nichols' final points with a floater in the lane.

With the shot clock winding down on Salve Regina's next possession and 1:28 remaining, freshman Sarah Averill swished a 3-pointer after Birrell had penetrated and dished back to the top left of the arc. Birrell later stole a Bison pass and Phillips turned it into a layup at the other end before converting an old-fashioned three-point play.Birrell finished with 10 points while sophomore center Lindsay Shorey scored 14 and grabbed eight boards.

Phillips also grabbed eight rebounds for the Seahawks who were led by junior Olivia Browning off the glass with nine caroms. Robidoux led the Bison with 18 points, seven rebounds. Lindgren finished with 14 points while junior forward Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) contributed 12 points and nine rebounds.

Salve Regina (8-7; 3-1 TCCC) hosts Western New England College on Saturday (1 p.m.) in a twinbill that precedes its fourth induction ceremonies for its Athletic Hall of Fame (5:30 p.m. at Ochre Court). Nichols (8-7; 1-3 TCCC) travels to Colby-Sawyer for a conference doubleheader on Saturday.

 
Story courtesy Salve Regina Sports Information

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