SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Roger Williams University (6-5) defeated Saint Joseph's College (6-5), 62-50, in the second game of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic on Wednesday afternoon.

Karlie Opalka was dominant in the paint for the Hawks, totaling 20 points and 11 boards, while Sam Mancinelli turned in 12 points and six assists.  Roger Williams shot 26-for-57 (45.6%) and held a 42-32 edge on the glass.

For Saint Joseph's, Alyson Fillion (Bedford, N.H.) produced 14 points, while Jordan Jabar (Waterville, Maine) chipped in eight points and six boards.  The Monks' bench accounted for 22 of their 50 points as the squad shot 19-for-54 in the contest.

The Monks gained a 13-10 lead with 2:23 left in the opening quarter on an inside score from Mikayla Van Zandt (Westbrook, Maine), only to have the Hawks score the final six points of the frame, including back-to-back buckets from Opalkak to own a 16-13 edge after 10 minutes of play. Roger Williams stretched their lead to 27-18 with 4:17 remaining in the half when Mancinelli cashed in on a deep triple and a Emily Yonych put back at the horn allowed the Hawks to take a 31-24 advantage into the halftime break. 

Roger Williams began the third quarter on an 11-5 burst to grab hold of a 42-29 edge following a jumper from Sophie Araneo with 6:17 on the clock.  However, Saint Joseph's would not go quietly, using an 11-4 burst of their own as a fast-break bucket by Cassandra Stapelfeld (Brookline, N.H.) with 1:25 remaining trimmed the lead to 46-40. Over the next 1:35 spanning into the final quarter, the Hawks netted eight-straight points to open up a 14-point cushion with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.  The Monks were unable to draw closer than eight points as the Hawks would hold on for a 12-point neutral site win.

Saint Joseph's returns to action tomorrow with a Naismith Classic game versus UMass.-Dartmouth at 1:00 PM.

COURTESY OF SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

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