NEWPORT, R.I. --

In a battle of NEWMAC foes known for close and scrappy battles, Salve Regina ultimately pulled away in the second half with a convincing 94-69 victory over the Bears. The Bears and Seahawks have now split their last four meetings and are 6-6 in their last 12 meetings. Salve came into today's game with a fire lit underneath them after suffering their first NEWMAC loss at the hands of Springfield earlier this week. After the win, the Seahawks now sit at 12-3 overall, and tied in first place in the conference with WPI at 5-1. Coast Guard drops to 4-11(0-7 NEWMAC) with the loss. 

The game started with a bang. On Salve's first possession, star forward Jack Margoupis(Sutton, MA) drained a three pointer. Their hopes of going on an early run were immediately squashed when on the Bears first possession, sharpshooter Trevor Parks(Clearwater, FL) answered with one of his own. Over the next six minutes, the Seahawks would take and hold on to the lead while Coast Guard nipped at their heels but had not yet held a lead. That changed with just under 14 remaining when an Aiden Dabbondanza(Gaithersburg, MD) rebound led to a fast break layup by Christian Rodgers(Linwood, NJ) to hand the Bears their first lead of the afternoon.

That Bear lead would hold for the next four minutes before Salve took charge yet again but four made free throws by Luke Farrell(Ortley, NJ) and a made basket by Elijah Parent(Bristol, CT) gave Coast Guard a 28-87 lead with under five to go in the half. In those final four and change however, the Seahawks would give a glimpse of what was to come in the second, closing out the first on an 18-9 run. 

The second half was all Seahawks. They shot 55.6% from the field, while the Bears were just 36.4%. They made the most of very few three point tries, going 3-5(60%) from beyond the arc while CGA was 7-31(22.6%). In the penultimate minute, Salve tied their highest lead of the day at 28 before a late Tyler Henderson(Fayetteville, NC) three and two Ashton Kendall(Baltimore, MD) free throws settled the game at its final score of 94-69. 

The win gets Salve back in the win column after a one game skid. They will stay at home to face Wheaton College on Tuesday January 20th with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Coast Guard was led both in scoring and on the boards by Luke Farrell, who had 23 points and nine rebounds while also contributing three assists and a steal. Behind Farrell in scoring was Trevor Parks with 18, coming on a 6-14 day from three. Elijah Parent led the way in assists with five, while adding seven points and Christian Rodgers gave 24 energetic minutes off the bench, totaling eight points with four rebounds and two assists. 

The Bears will host the MIT Engineers on Thursday January 22nd at 7:00 PM. The Engineers currently sit at 5-10, 1-5 in the NEWMAC and are coming off a 66-77 loss to WPI earlier today.