Trinity Women's Basketball Suffers Tough Overtime Loss At Rhode Island College

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Providence, R.I. - Junior guard Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) reached the 1,000-point milestone, while sophomore forward Courtney Burns (Rockland, MA) scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, as the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen came from behind late in the second half to force overtime and defeat the visiting Trinity College Bantams, 85-83, in women's basketball action this evening at The Murray Center.  Trinity is now 11-4 with its first loss in six games, while the Anchorwomen improve to 12-4. 

Trinity had six players score in double figures, led by 17 from junior guard Kaitlin Ciarleglio (Waterbury, Conn.) and 16 by classmate Michelle Royals (Torrington, Conn.). Senior tri-captain Rebecca Cohn (San Francisco, Calif.) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go along with a 15-point effort.  The Anchorwomen also got key performances from senior guard Lauren Harrington (Exeter, R.I.) and junior point guard Nicole Girard (Foster, R.I.). Harrington drained a key three-pointer late in overtime as part of her 13-point, five-rebound effort. Girard added 12 points, which included three longballs, to go along with six rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

The first half was controlled by the Bantams , who stormed out to a 19-4 lead to start the game. Trinity eventually increased its advantage to a game-high 17, 27-10, at 9:15 of the first half. Rhode Island College chipped away at its deficit, shrinking the difference to six points, 33-27, at 4:27, and 35-29, 32 seconds later.  Royals sank five free throws down the stretch, allowing Trinity to take a 42-35 lead into halftime.

Although the Anchorwomen fell behind by 10 points, 47-37, at 17:47 of the second half, the Anchorwomen calmly made up ground over the next 10 minutes. Rhode Island College was down by seven, 63-56, with 8:57 remaining before erupting for 10 straight points. Harrington started the rally with one of her three second half trifectas. Down by two, 63-61, Girard gave the hosts their first lead of the night on a three-pointer at 7:33.  Trailing by four points, 69-65, with 4:20 left, Trinity was whistled for a technical foul with six players on the court after a timeout. Coro went to the line and made both to give Rhode Island College what proved to be its largest advantage (six points) of the night.  The Bantams cut their deficit to one point on a Royals layup and foul shot with 1:45 left. After Girard made one from the line, Ciarleglio sank two from the charity stripe with 17 seconds left to knot the contest, 75-75. Coro's drive and layup at the buzzer fell short to force the extra session.

Rhode Island College broke a 77-77 tie on a layup from junior forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) and then, off a turnover, Burns made a jumper to put the Anchorwomen in the driver's seat up by four, 81-77, at 2:58.  Cohn pulled the Bantams within two points, 81-79, with a jump shot with 2:43 left, but Harrington answered with the dagger from downtown.  Riley made one from the line to make it a two-possession game with seven seconds left to seal the win.