NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior forward Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) recorded her seventh double-double of the season (15 points, 11 rebounds), and first in a month, to lead Salve Regina University women's basketball to its 14th straight victory with a 58-49 decision over visiting Curry College in The Commonwealth Coast Coast (TCCC) action Tuesday night.
Salve Regina (19-3; 10-0 TCCC) opened the game with a 10-0 run as all five starters had two points in the first 2:48 of the contest. Junior center Lindsay Shorey (Ashland, Mass.) came off the bench and quickly scored four points to help the Seahawks build a 15-point lead (23-8) with 7:20 remaining in the first stanza.
Sophomore point guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) provided transition from defense to offense with a balanced line score - eight points, six assists, five steals.
Senior forward Victoria Audet (Broad Brook, Conn.) drove the baseline for a layup and the last points of the first half to give Salve Regina a 13-point lead at the break (36-23).
Curry (15-6; 5-5 TCCC), which saw its six-game win streak snapped, rallied in the second half with an 11-2 run at the outset, and closed within four points (38-34 at the 15:57 mark). Four layups, two by sophomore guard Carolyn Houston (Melrose, N.Y.), preceded a 3-pointer from sophomore forward Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.).
Phillips had the lone bucket for Salve Regina during the Curry burst.
The Seahawks responded with an 11-0 run on five layups and a Shorey free throw. Shorey was perfect at the line (5-for-5) to finish with 11 points.
Rafferty led Curry with 12 points while senior forward Danyel Cousins (Brunswick, Maine) added 11 points. Fellow senior Cortney Robinson (Brockton, Mass.) was held without a field goal but she managed a team-high nine rebounds.
Curry hosts non-league Lasell College on Thursday before returning to TCCC action on Saturday at home against Wentworth. Salve Regina entertains Endicott College on Saturday (1 p.m.) in a doubleheader. (Game recap courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information)
