Seahawks control NEWMAC basketball opener vs. Lyons

Hannah Goen led Mount Holyoke with 10 points in the NEWMAC opener against Salve Regina on Jan. 18, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)
Hannah Goen led Mount Holyoke with 10 points in the NEWMAC opener against Salve Regina on Jan. 18, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Salve Regina University jumped out to an early lead and outscored Mount Holyoke College in each quarter en route to a 65-35 defeat of the Lyons in both teams' NEWMAC opener on Saturday afternoon.

Sofia Neary had game highs of 21 points, 11 rebounds and three steals to go with four assists as the Seahawks (8-6, 1-0 NEWMAC) outscored the Lyons (4-11, 0-1 NEWMAC) 26-12 in the paint. Amanda Folan added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Briana Neary scored 11 points.

Sophomore Hannah Goen (New London, N.H.) scored a team-high 10 points for Mount Holyoke, including two 3-pointers. Senior Cal McGonagle (Yarmouth, Maine) added nine points and nine rebounds, and sophomore Sofia Francisco (Boston, Mass.) collected 11 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Mount Holyoke struggled to score to start the game, with a three by Goen the Lyons' only points for the first nine minutes, allowing Salve to seize a 15-3 lead and never trail. Folan dished to Sofia Neary for a layup with eight seconds left in the period for a 17-5 Seahawks lead at the first break.

McGonagle made four straight buckets for Mount Holyoke in an 8-2 run that got the Lyons back into the game at 22-15 with 5:40 left in the second quarter. But Salve clamped down on Mount Holyoke, holding the Lyons scoreless for the remainder of the period to finish the half on an 8-0 run and a 30-15 lead.

First-year Ania McMichael (Glastonbury, Conn.) fed Francisco and Goen for back-to-back layups early in the third quarter, closing Salve's lead to 32-19. But that was as close as the Lyons would get the rest of the way, as the Seahawks outscored the hosts 20-13 in the third quarter and 15-7 in the fourth, building a lead as high as 33 points late in the game.

Salve shot .348 from the field, .235 from three and .684 at the line, bettering Mount Holyoke (.213/.158/.500) in each shooting category. The Seahawks outrebounded the Lyons 52-46 and had a 23-16 edge in turnovers.

Both teams return to NEWMAC action Wednesday at 7pm; Mount Holyoke will host Wheaton College while Salve will visit WPI.