Regis Loses to Brandeis in Saturday Matinee

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College's defense forced Brandeis University into 20 turnovers, but the Judges established a first-half advantage and held on to defeat the Pride, 68-50, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference women's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Pam Gonzalez (Revere, Mass.) shot 7-of-12 from the field, including three three-pointers, and 4-of-5 from the free throw line to lead the Pride with 21 points, plus she collected eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Katryna Veasey (Quincy, Mass.) notched her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Mackenzie Emery (Standish, Maine) helped run the offense with seven assists.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Judges, as Jillian Petrie made a layup one minute into the game and a three-pointer on the next possession. Brandeis extended its lead into double figures with six straight points late in the first quarter before a jumper by Veasey cut the Regis deficit to eight at 16-8 heading into the second period.

A three-pointer by Gonzalez early in the second quarter brought the Pride within six at 19-13, but Brandeis eventually reestablished a double-digit lead. Courtney Thrun converted a traditional three-point play with 2:14 remaining in the first half, the final points of the half as the Judges took a 36-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.

After a quick 6-0 spurt by Brandeis early in the third quarter, Regis scored the next seven points on a three-pointer by Shannon Kelley (Quincy, Mass.) and consecutive layups from Gonzalez. Francesca Marchese hit a three-pointer to stop the Pride run, and then a jumper by Camila Casanueva as time ran out in the period increased the Brandeis advantage to 58-44 heading into the fourth period.

Veasey scored the first points of the final quarter, but the Judges put the game away with 10 unanswered points, featuring another three-pointer from Marchese. After Gonzalez made a layup with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter, the two teams combined for three turnovers and 11 missed shots to keep the score the same.

Hannah Nicholson notched a double-double, leading the Judges with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Casanueva finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots, Marchese hit four three-pointers for 12 points, and Thrun added seven points, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots off the bench.

Brandeis (10-1) shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, including 8-of-18 from behind the three-point line, and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the free throw line. The Judges won the rebounding battle, 47-35, and scored 16 points off 13 Regis turnovers while holding the Pride to 11 points off their 20 turnovers.

As a team, the Pride shot 30.8 percent (20-of-65) from the field, including 5-of-21 from behind the three-point line, and just 5-of-11 from the free throw line. Regis reached double figures in steals for the seventh time in the last eight games, as Arie Searcy (Santa Rosa, Calif.) contributed three steals to go along with four points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Regis (6-7) enters conference play next Saturday, Jan. 11, traveling to face Albertus Magnus for a 1 p.m. tipoff. The Pride do not play another home game until Saturday, Jan. 25, against Emmanuel College beginning at 2 p.m.