BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team utilized a late second-half run to pull off a 60-58 comeback win over Connecticut College and remain undefeated (3-0) in the early part of the season.
The Hawks trailed for most of the game, due in part to the size advantage held by Connecticut College. Boasting three six-footers, the Camels used their height to crash the boards throughout the contest, outrebounding Roger Williams 52-39.
Despite the Hawks trouble on the glass, they made up for it in their defensive prowess, holding the Camels to only 32.3 percent shooting in the game.
In the first half, Connecticut College broke a 4-4 tie with a 13-0 run. The Hawks fought their way back to pull within seven, but Connecticut College continued to lead by double digit for most of the period, going into the break up by eight. The Camels' Tara Gabelman (Irvington, N.Y.) grabbed ten rebounds alone in the period.
In the second half, the Camels continued to hold off the Hawks. Roger Williams kept the deficit at single digits, pulling within five but just could not seem to take the lead.
The turning point came in the final four minutes of the game. Trailing by seven, RWU's Ari Renwick (Westwood, Mass.) singlehandedly brought the Hawks back into the game, beginning with a fast-break layup, followed by a pair of free throws on the ensuing Hawk possession.
After a missed Camel shot, Renwick made a move to the basket for an easy layup that brought the deficit to only one (53-54). A heads-up steal by Amanda Keane (Wilmington, Mass.) gave the Hawks a chance to take the lead. Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) drove down the baseline and found Renwick open in the corner for a long two to give the Hawks their first lead since the first basket of the game with 1:18 to play.
A pair of Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) free throws put the Hawks up by three, which would lead to both teams trading free throws over the final minute of the game. With five seconds left to play, the Hawks elected to foul Connecticut College while leading by three. The Camel's Carlee Smith (Willimantic, Conn.) knocked down her freebies to bring the game back within one.
Bovee would be fouled on the inbound and sent to the line. She hit the first but missed the second, with Caitlin Cimino (Falmouth, Maine) grabbing the board with just over two second left. She made her way up the court but was unable to get off a shot before the buzzer sounded, as the Hawks escaped with the win.
Renwick finished with a career-high 19 points in the game to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Bovee added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Katie Lowerre (Sharon, Mass.) finished just shy of a double-double, going for eight points and 12 rebounds.
Gabelman went for 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Cimino had six points and ten rebounds, while Smith added 11 points and six assists.
Roger Williams hosts Colby College next while Connecticut College (1-2) welcomes St. Joseph's (CT), with both games on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.