BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior
Rylie Rosenberg (New Rochelle, N.Y.) poured in a career-high 25 points and classmate
Mary Kate Flynn (Hanover, Mass.) posted a double-double with career highs of 12 points and 13 rebounds to help Babson College defeat visiting Roger Williams, 72-52, in non-conference women's basketball action on Friday night inside Staake Gymnasium.
With the win, Babson begins the year at 1-0 while Roger Williams starts 0-1.
Rosenberg buried five three-pointers and added three assists and three steals, Flynn was 6-of-10 from the floor to go along with four steals and two blocks, and senior
Samantha Reale (North Attleboro, Mass.) contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with four steals to lead the Beavers. Junior
Allessa Mendoza (Yonkers, N.Y.) led all players with four assists in the win.
Senior Chloe Richardson (Norwell, Mass.) finished with 15 points and six rebounds, junior Sakoya Sweeney (Craftsbury, Vt.) added 13 points and senior Lilli Clark (Willimantic, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points, six boards and three assists to pace the Hawks.
Rosenberg and Reale combined for the first 10 points and sophomore
Alyssa Hopps (Quincy, Mass.) scored inside and knocked down a free throw on the ensuing possession to give the Green and White a 13-3 lead less than five minutes into the contest. The hosts extended the margin to 17-6 on a steal and layup by junior
Julia St. Laurent (Greenland, N.H.) with 2:03 left in the stanza, and Rosenberg scored eight of the first 10 points in the second quarter for a 29-16 advantage with 5:47 to play in the second quarter.
Roger Williams responded with a 10-2 run that included six consecutive points by Sweeney to get as close as 31-26 at the 2:31 mark. The Beavers answered back though, using a 7-0 run to push the lead back to 38-26 on a three-pointer by Hopps with 1:02 left before halftime, and then scoring the first six points of the third quarter to make it 44-26. Rosenberg drilled a triple to give Babson its first 20-point lead of the game with 3:57 to go in the third and Reale drained her second three-pointer of the night to make it 52-34 with 42 seconds left in the period.
Rosenberg scored nine points during a 13-5 run to open the fourth quarter that gave the Green and White its largest lead of the game at 65-41 with 4:59 remaining.
Babson shot 42 percent from the floor, outscored the Hawks 34-22 in the paint and turned 25 Roger Williams turnovers into 28 points. The Beavers also ended the night with a 41-31 edge on the glass. The Hawks shot 37.5 percent but went just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Babson returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Stevens at 1 p.m. Roger Williams travels to Wheaton on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 5-2 all-time against Roger Williams and have won three of the last four games between the teams.
• Babson is now 13-2 dating back to the start of last season when shooting at least 40 percent, and 18-2 when scoring at least 60 points.
• The Green and White has won 11 of its last 12 games when holding its opponents below 60 points.
• Rosenberg has now scored 20 or more points in four of her last five games going back to last February, while Reale returned to action for the first time since November 28 of last year when she suffered a season-ending injury at Pomona-Pitzer.
