PRIDE HOLD OFF POETS IN CALIFORNIA

WHITTIER, Calif. – Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) scored 12 second half points as the Pride fought off host Whittier College for a 64-59 win as a part of the Purple and Gold Poet Classic held in Whittier, Calif. on Thursday night. The Pride have now won three-straight to improve to 5-2 on the year while the Poets drop to 2-7 in 2011.

Regis grabbed an early 16-8 lead before Whittier scored seven-straight points to make it a 16-15 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening period. The Poets grabbed a 21-20 lead on a Keimi Lew free throw but the Pride quickly responded by taking a 30-22 lead on a pair of free throws by Leah Murphy (Westborough, Mass.). Kimberly Daniels' (Jafferey, N.H.) layup with 17 seconds remaining in the period made it a 32-27 Regis lead headed into halftime.

In the second half, Whittier's Dannika Navales-Lugt scored seven-straight points for the host Poets to take a 37-36 lead with 14:50 remaining in the game. A threeball from Teresa Busiek (Arlington, Mass.) ignited an 11-4 run capped off by an Emilee Marro (Bedford, N.H.) layup that gave Regis a 50-41 lead a mere five minutes later.

The Pride's lead stayed between eight and 10 points before a late push by the Poets made it a 61-56 lead with only 39 seconds remaining. Stephanie Crawford made three of four free throws to keep the Poets at bay and help the Pride grab a 64-59 victory.

Crawford scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half to lead the Pride. Emilee Marro just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds while Leah Murphy came off the bench to knock down a pair of threes and score 11 points.

The Pride advance to the Championship game where Regis will take on King's College at 2:00 p.m. PST.