Nighthawks Drop Season Opener to Hawks

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Newbury College women's basketball team dropped their 2010-11 season opener to Roger Williams University, Monday evening. The Hawks picked up the convincing victory, 78-48, over the Nighthawks.

 The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team kicked off the 2010-11 season Monday evening with a convincing win over Newbury College, as the Hawks picked up the 78-48 win.

Freshman Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) began the game with an and-one bucket and free throw to put the Hawks up 3-0 in the opening minute. From there the Hawks would never relinquish the lead. Newbury's Shayla White (Dorchester, Mass.) went down the lane a minute later on a fast break and dropped in a layup to pull the Nighthawks within one.

The Hawks grabbed a brief five-point lead before a jumper by Morganna Machado (Attleboro, Mass.) pulled Newbury back within one. With the score 11-10 in favor of Roger Williams, the Hawks went on a 14-3 run to stretch the advantage to 12. A tip-in by Jalisa Fields (Bronx, N.Y.) would later make it a 19-27 Newbury deficit, yet the Hawks closed the first half on an 18-0 run, capped off by a bank-shot three-pointer in the corner by Kate Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) at the buzzer.

In the second half, the Hawk lead never dipped below 27 in the period, with RWU taking its largest leaf of the game at the 8:24 mark, as a layup by Mary O'Donnell (Boston, Mass.) put the Hawks up 69-29.

Bovee concluded her Hawk debut with an impressive double-double, registering 16 points and 15 rebounds (nine offensive), both team highs.  Carly Spagnola added 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists for RWU, while Paige Congdon (Westwood, Mass.) contributed four points and eight boards (five offensive) off the bench. Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) filled up the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Catherine O'Connell (Quincy, Mass.) also recorded a double-double, this time going for 13 points, 15 rebounds (nine offensive), and a game-high six blocks for Newbury. Kendra Bannister (Washington, D.C.) chipped in with 12 points off the bench, while Fields finished with six points and 11 rebounds for the Nighthawks.

Roger Williams (1-0) hosts Wheaton College tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., while Newbury (0-1) takes on New England College Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

- Story provided by: Nick Williams, Athletic Communications Director - Roger Williams University

- Photo by: Samantha Yanofsky