Rams overcome 15-point deficit, defeat Seahawks in season-opener 62-58

NEWPORT, R.I. - Sophomore Kristina Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) scored eight of her team-high 13 points in the second half as Suffolk University rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat Salve Regina University 62-58 in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday night at Rodgers Recreation Center.

Freshman Lindsey Rogers (Gloucester, Mass.) added 11 points for the Rams (1-0), who trailed by 12 at halftime (32-20) and 38-25 with 15:44 remaining in the second half before finishing the contest on a 37-20 run. Junior Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) led the Seahawks with 16 points and 14 rebounds, but was held to only two points in the second half.

The Rams shot just 17.1 percent (6-of-35) in the opening stanza while the Seahawks knocked down 40.0 percent of their shots. Phillips led the way with 14 points - including a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe - while Hayner and Rogers each scored five points to pace Suffolk.

A pair of baskets by sophomore and reigning The Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Year Lindsay Shorey (Ashland, Mass.) pushed the Seahawk lead to 15 five minutes into the second half, but led by two three-point field goals and a pair of free throws by Hayner, Suffolk tied the score at 43 with 10:22 left on the clock.

The Rams full court press forced the Seahawks to commit 10 of their 25 turnovers in the second half, and their ball distribution on offense down the stretch created several open looks for their players under the basket. Sophomores Mary Garon (Auburn, N.H.), Julianne Conrad (West Bridgewater, Mass.), and Meghan Black (Roslindale, Mass.) each scored four points in the final 10 minutes. Clinging to a one point lead (59-58) with two minutes remaining, Conrad sank two free throws to put Suffolk ahead by three, and its defense forced the Seahawks to miss their final four shots of the night.

"Suffolk did a good job forcing us to play a tempo we didn't want to, but we beat ourselves," said Seahawk head coach Cori Hughes. "We turned the ball over and allowed them to get offensive rebounds, which were the two things we talked about correcting at halftime. That cost us the game."

Conrad finished with eight points while freshman Jaqueline Vienneau (Salem, N.H.) snared a team-high nine rebounds as the Rams shot 43.8 percent in the second half. The Seahawks, meanwhile, saw their shooting percentage dip to 30.6 percent in the second half. Shorey finished with 14 points for Salve Regina while freshman Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) netted 13 points and dished out a game-high five assists in her collegiate debut. Junior Olivia Browning (Trumbull, Conn.) snared 11 boards for Salve Regina.

The Seahawks return to action on Thursday when they host Johnson & Wales at 7 p.m. Suffolk will compete in the Emerson College Tip-Off Tournament beginning Friday with a contest against Montclair State.