BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team tied its longest winning streak since the 2006-07 season with its sixth straight win, picking up a 66-56 victory over New England College Saturday afternoon.
With the win, RWU improves to 5-0 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference, marking the first time in program history that the team opened conference play with five straight wins.
The Hawks rallied around Carly Spagnola (Millbrook, N.Y.), who led the Hawks with a career-high 20 points, along with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Strong defense helped the Hawks down the Pilgrims, who had entered the game having won two of their last three games. New England College shot only 37.3 percent (22-59) from the field in the game while committing 22 turnovers, leading to 23 Hawk points. In addition, RWU used a commanding presence in the post to score 36 points in the paint.
Elizabeth Kilzi (Waverly, Pa.) downed a jumper on the Hawks' opening possession, leading a 6-0 run to begin the contest. New England College came back with a layup by Kate Levy (Woods Hole, Mass.) and a three by Stephanie Parker (Wilder, Vt.) to pull within one (6-5).
Though the Pilgrims pulled with one two more times in the game, New England College could not take the lead. The Hawks extended its 10-9 lead into a 23-9 advantage over a four-minute stretch in the first period, keeping the Pilgrims at bay. RWU went into the break holding a 36-24 lead.
In the second half, RWU maintained a double-figure lead throughout most of the period, save for the Pilgrims' closest bid to come back, with Jessie Ledy (South Beach, Ore.) laying up a bucket to make it a 30-38 deficit.
Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) notched her second double-double of the season, going for 14 points and ten rebounds. Ryan Weekes (Worcester, Mass.) added 11 points, six boards, and four steals, while Kilzi finished with ten points.
Rachel Williams (Chapel Hill, N.C.), the current ECAC player of the week coming off of back-to-back 30+ point games, scored 20 for the Pilgrims in the game. Parker finished with 16 points and five steals, while Levy chipped in with nine points and three steals.
Roger Williams (12-3, 5-0 TCCC) steps out of conference play Tuesday with a 7:30 p.m. game at Trinity College, while New England College (9-8, 2-3 TCC) hosts Gordon College Thursday at 5:30 p.m.